The beginning of grape cultivation, with the production of wine, brought forward by the Tornatore Family, dates back to 1865, when the great grandfather of the current owner began the farming activity. In 1910 the Grandfather Giuseppe built a house with a millstone in the district of Piano Fiera with adjacent 2 hectares of vineyards in addition to other two hectares on the North side of the Etna, in the district of Piano Felci at 1,000 m above sea level.

The Tornatore family has always had a detailed knowledge of the territories of the town of Castiglione di Sicilia since Grandfather Giuseppe and Uncle Giovanni were appointed land registry makers at the beginning of the thirties, accompanying the surveyor to detect cadastral parcels, to define boundaries and names of the local districts. In that same period dates also the construction of an oil-mill annex to the winery, which has been active through all technological evolutions until the ‘70s.

Thus a Family with deep roots in their territory of origin, which in the following generations never neglected affection and respect to it and to the traditions.

The company lies in the northern side of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. The soils have volcanic origin and are derived from the disintegration of the masses of lava, ashes and lapilli.

Tornatore’s vineyards are one of the largest the Etna DOC production area.
Tornatore’s vineyards count several locations in different districts: among them the remarkable contrade of Bragaseggi, Piano dei Daini, Zottorinotto, Pietrarizzo, Malpasso, Pietramarina, Torre Guarino, Carranco and Trimarchisa, all in the Castiglione di Sicilia Municipality.

COLOR AND TASTING NOTES
Ruby red with faint purple, typical of this variety which is not very rich in color. Clear hints of red berries, morello cherry and black cherry on the nose. The taste is characterized by its typical balanced tannins and a surprising fullness, flavor and persistence.

AGING
About 6 months into big wooden barrels and 3 months in bottle.

GROWING SISTEM
Counter-espalier

PRUNING SYSTEM
Cordon pruned and tied-up vine

YIELD PER HECTARE
70 quintals

HARVEST PERIOD
Between 2th and 3th week of October

WINEMAKING SYSTEM
After the grapes are harvested by hand in small crates they are quickly brought to the winery where they are manually selected on a belt-conveyor. Then they are destemmed and not completely crushed, and sent to concrete tanks, where they macerate for about 10/12 days at a temperature of 22/25 °C. After fermentation, the grapes are left to macerate for a few days more, then wine is separated from
grape skins, which are pressed with the traditional vertical press.

AREA OF PRODUCTION
Castiglione di Sicilia, northern slopes of mount Etna

14% ABV

Azienda Agricola Francesco Tornatore has obtained the VIVA certification.
The awareness that every action has an impact on the environment has led us to a concrete commitment to sustainable development, with the certainty that quality wines can be produced while respecting the environment.

Our goal: an economy with low carbon dioxide emissions, efficient in the use of resources and careful to biodiversity and the social fabric.

VIVA certification (assessment of the impact of viticulture on the environment) evaluates and certifies environmental sustainability, activities in terms of biodiversity, protection and enhancement of the territory, commitment and socio-economic impact.

A continuous and constant commitment and attention in the interest of all.