2021 Mortellito 'Cala Niuru' Rosso Terre Siciliane IGT

Mortellito [MORT-el-li-to] is in Val di Noto, in the corner of Sicily that lies at the same latitudes as North Africa’s arid desert climate. Its vineyards are a few kilometers from the coast, abandoned and still working fishing ports dot the landscape. 

Dario Serrentino has always enjoyed the contrasts of this coastal growing area, which he calls ‘a desert next to the beach.’ Despite the harsh climate, the pure limestone sand soils help make the wines elegant and bright.

Dario changed careers from  social worker and part-time farmer to full-time vignaiolo with his first bottling in 2014. He works only with native grapes, the Cala Niuru is a blend of Frappato and Nero d'Avola.There’s never been any chemical interventions in the vineyards, and there’s an intentional hands-off approach in the cellar, with a minimum of sulphur added at bottling. 

Drink with a slight chill!