Sicilia

To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is to not have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.
Goethe
The history of Sicily dates back to the Paleolithic period, and it was the earliest inhabitantsfirst the Sicani, then the Siculiwho gave the island its name. Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, Sicily has long been an important crossroads for trade and the migrating peoples of the Mediterranean. This remarkable land has been coveted by many over its history which reaches back thousands of years. The foundations for winegrowing were laid by the Greeks; later the Byzantines created large ecclesiastical estates with extensive vineyards. Over the centuries, the Arabs, Normans and Bourbons have all fought to control this island rich in natural resources and beautiful landscapes. In his Italian journey, Goethe sang the praises of Sicily as the land which produced everything. He was referring not only to the ancient civilizations of the island, but also to its enological tradition. Sicily is the cradle of Italian wine and its annual output of 10 million hectolitres puts it in the top tier of Italy's production league. Sicily is believed to be the birthplace of all sorts of culinary delights: citrus fruits, olives, brilliant vegetables, herbs, spices, lamb, dozens of different cheeses, grain for pasta and a multitude of breads and pastries. Then there's the sea, brimming full with fish, offering tuna, swordfish and sardines, to name but a few. Soil, Viticulture and Climate Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. It is surrounded by the Egadi, the Eolie, the Pelagie islands, and also by the islands of Ustica and Pantelleria. It has over 1,400 kilometres of coastline: almost a quarter of the territory is mountainous, 60% is hilly and the remainder is flat. Mountains are concentrated in the northeastern part of the island, with the highest peak in the Etna volcano. Wide plains are situated to the south of Etna, around Catania and along the coast. Sicily has a Mediterranean climate, hot and quite dry in the coastal regions, with a temperate and moist inland especially at higher altitudes. Historically, much of Sicilian winegrowing was focused on mass production and on dessert grapes. In recent years, however, there has been a shift toward higher quality. Fortunately, many of the old alberellotrained vines still exist, ensuring the best quality grapes.

In the

Press
IN THE PRESS

I L M USMECI E TNA R OSSO C RU DOC

Wine Enthusiast, April 2012 (Vintage 2008) One of the highest expressions of Sicilian enologyboth figuratively and literallyIl Musmeci is mostly Nerello Mascalese, with some Nerello Cappuccio. This rising star of Etna shows extremely delicate and fine-tuned notes of small berry and spice and a powerful and polished feel in the mouth. Age 10 years or more. Wine Enthusiast, April 2012 (Vintage 2007) Il Musmeci is quickly reaching cult status in Italy as one of the best wines to emerge from Etna. Made from Nerello Mascalese and a small component of Nerello Cappuccio, it shows fine and elegant aromatic nuances of smell berry, cola and volcanic stone. The wines real power comes in the mouth thanks to its tannic structure and length. Wine Advocate - Issue #195, June 2011 (Vintage 2008) The 2008 Etna Rosso Il Musmeci is 95% Nerello Mascalese and 5% Nerello Cappuccio from vineyards planted in 1920. Layers of dark fruit emerge from this powerful old-vine red, accentuated by hints of sweet tobacco and cedar. This is a decidedly intense style for the Etna. It will be interesting to see the direction Musmeci takes from here. Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri 2010 Award Winner Dark ruby-red in color, with intense floral notes and nuances of spice on the nose. Strong, elegant tannins, with noticeable minerality and hints of oak on the finish. The perfect match for roasted lamb.

91 pts/Cellar Selection

91 pts

S
The most striking thing you can see when you lift your gaze is a plume of smoke rising from the crater of the volcano.
Federico Curtaz, winemaker

panning the slopes of Mt. Etna, Italys largest active volcano, Tenuta di Fessina is a remarkably unique Sicilian winery. Founded

in 2007 by winemaker Silvia Maestrelli, her husband Roberto Silva, and winemaker Federico Curtaz, the Fessina Estate is located in Rovittello, a small, picturesque village in the heart of Castiglione di Sicilia. The spectacular Fessina estate lies in the shadows of Mt. Etna, Europes largest active volcano, which adds to the mystique of this incredible property. Given its distinct location, the terroir of the vineyards is composed of centuries-old lava deposits, which yield strikingly individual wines that are in a

91+ pts

E RSE E TNA R OSSO DOC

Wine Enthusiast, April 2012 (Vintage 2009) Some of the best expressions from Etna share some of the brightness and beauty of Burgundian Pinot Noir. Erse offers delicate berry and blue flower aromas and is driven by polished tannins and a firm, but precise mouthfeel. Wine Enthusiast, April 2012 (Vintage 2008) Erse opens with light, delicate tones of wild berry, cassis, blue flower and polished river stone. Theres an extremely finely-etched, but also firm, quality to the tannins. Wine Advocate - Issue #195, June 2011 (Vintage 2009) Sweet candied cherries, crushed flowers, spices and anise are some of the notes that emerge from the 2009 Etna Rosso Erse. This pretty, feminine red is quite typical of the wines of the Etna. Wine Advocate - April 2009 (Vintage 2008) gorgeous inner perfume and a silky core of fruit in a medium-bodied style. This delicate, textured red is a great example of the quality top producers can reach in this emerging appellation.

class by themselves. In addition to the main estate, the winery includes two additional vineyards, a tribute to Sicilys incredibly fertile, bountiful landscape. The Segesta vineyard is dedicated to the Nakone, Fessinas elegant Chardonnay, while the Val di Noto is the source of the Nero DAvola grapes used to create the rich, sensual Ero Rosso wine. In essence, Tenuta di Fessina is a testament to the beauty and splendor of its surroundings: the magnificence of the region is reflected in the wines.

88 pts

88 pts 88 pts

89 pts

According to the renowned wine writer Robert M. Parker Jr., Winebow is one of Americas most successful and well-known importers/distributors of fine wines. Leonardo LoCascio, who has never been content to rest on his laurels, continues to explore Italys backwaters, discovering increasingly intriguing wines from areas outside the two renowned viticultural regions of Tuscany
I MPORTED BY W INEBOW I NC ., N EW Y ORK , NY D ISTRIBUTING P REMIUM W INES & S PIRITS FOR M ORE T HAN 30 Y EARS

and Piedmont. LoCascio has pressed his producers to move away from interventionalistic winemaking, toward more natural bottling and less traumatizing wine producing techniques. To his credit, he has never hesitated to represent producers who may have only a handful of cases to sell, recognizing there is always a healthy market place for high quality, limited production wines from unknown producers.

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1 . 8 0 0 . W I N E B O W W I N E B O W. C O M
07/11

BEHIND THE
Silvia Maestrelli Owner

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Making wine for me means continuing a family tradition

Wines
WINES
E RSE E TNA R OSSO DOC
Named after Erse the Roman Goddess of dew, this is a delicate, yet textured red wine with a gorgeous inner perfume and a silky core of fruit in a medium-bodied style. Made from 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio, the Etna Rosso is smooth on the palate, with strong tannins. This elegant wine goes beautifully with meats, sauted greens and spicy tomato-based dishes.

BEHIND THE

Tenuta di Fessina proprietress Silvia Maestrelli comes from a long line of winery owners and entrepreneurs. Prior to founding Tenuta di Fessina several years ago with her husband Roberto Silva and renowned winemaker Federico Curtaz, she managed Villa Petriolo, the Maestrelli familys legendary Tuscan property. Under Silvias leadership, Villa Petriolo was transformed into a modern estate capable of producing first-rate wines of international quality. Despite Silvias Tuscan roots, she and her husband fell in love with the history, culture, and extraordinary natural beauty of Sicily, prompting them to purchase the Tenuta di Fessina winery and estate in 2007. Since then, the winery has flourished under Silvias guidance, receiving countless awards and accolades. In addition to the original property, the winery now includes Chardonnay vineyards in Segesta, and Nero DAvola vines in Val di Noto. In addition to her passion for wine, Silvia is an avid travel enthusiast and, along with sister Simona, founder of the wine blog (www.divinando.blogspot.com).

Federico Curtaz winemaker

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I believe that working in the vineyards is a question of balances. What is important is the soil, with its potential, its qualities, but also its limits. We have to respect nature, without trying to modify it.
Winemaker Federico Curtaz holds a degree in Agricultural Studies and has worked in various areas of the wine industry for over twenty years. Curtaz began his collaboration with Silvia Maestrelli and Riccardo Silva nearly ten years ago at Villa Petriolo, where he worked first as an agronomist, and later as a winemaker.

I L M USMECI E TNA R OSSO C RU DOC

A magnificent blend of 80% Nerello Mascalese & 20% Nerello Capuccio, sourced from old vines grown on the slopes of Mt. Etna. This phenomenal cru wine gets its name from the Musmeci family, who tended the vineyards for decades prior to Fessina. Dark ruby-red in color, with intense spicy and floral notes on the nose. Aged for 15 months in French oak barrels, the Musmeci has strong, elegant tannins with hints of oak on the long, complex finish. An excellent match for roasted lamb, and strong cheese.

In 2007, inspired by the remarkable history, culture, and natural beauty of Sicily, he purchased Tenuta di Fessina along with Maestrelli and Silva, and has held the position of head winemaker ever since. At Tenuta di Fessina, Curtaz has created wines of great elegance and character that showcase the beauty and splendor of the unique Sicilian terroir. Notably, the winerys first vintage of Il Musmeci, made from native varietal Nerello Mascalese, received the coveted Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri award, one of Italys most soughtafter wine accolades. In addition to his efforts at the winery, Curtaz is the chairman of the Luoghi di Vite an association of Italian winemakers that strives to promote Italys various wine regions. He is the 2011 recipient of the Gusto Divino award as best oenologist at Castelbuono Paese Divino. In spite of his many accomplishments, Federico considers Tenuta di Fessina to be his greatest achievement thus far. As Federico puts it; Tenuta di Fessina is the deepest experience for me. The Etna has been a discovery. There, among the rocks that evoke my origins. I feel at home.

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