Wheat fields, vegetable gardens, olive and almond trees thrive on the fertile soils of Tasca d'Almerita in Sicily. But it is the vineyards, located in five regions of the volcanic island, that capture the many faces of the island and tell a very special story in wines full of character.To be among the best also requires a high degree of responsibility. All the more so when one's own history is closely linked to a special piece of earth. And that is the story we are telling here. For eight generations, the Tasca d'Almerita family has lived and worked with the fertile soil of Sicily. They live with the vineyards, which they cultivate, care for, expand and pass on to the next generation in top condition. Thus, over time, a unique agricultural and viticultural project of some 700 hectares has been created, which today, in addition to the Regaleali mother estate in the surprisingly green Sicilian hills, comprises four other wineries - Capofaro in Salina in the archipelago of the Aeolian Islands, Tascante on Mount Etna, Whitaker on the ancient island of Mozia and Sallier de La Tour in Camporeale - which thus capture the fascinating geological and climatic interplay of change of the volcanic isle in vinophilic power.
All this is done with deep respect for tradition. So it comes as no surprise that the family's attention is focused on traditional, autochthonous grape varieties such as Catarratto, Grillo, Inzolia, Perricone and Nerello Mascalese, in order to bring out even more intensively the uniqueness and diversity of the five individual and, above all, independent areas. "Each winery tells of a different Sicily," says managing director Alberto Tasca proudly. In order to maintain this high quality, sustainability is the second and decisive pillar for the family, which is looking to the future with an awareness that must be unparalleled. "The biggest challenge for us today is to preserve these wonderful places and pass them on to our children intact, with constant attention to the protection of each ecosystem." To achieve this goal, Tasca d'Almerita joined programmes like VIVA and SOStain - a sustainability programme recognised by the Ministry of Ecological Change - almost 13 years ago. It is a concrete project to protect the territory that is so close to Alberto Tasca's heart. "We embarked on a journey of awareness-raising because we wanted to know exactly what impact each of our actions has in the vineyard, in the cellar and more generally throughout the organisation." Using rigorous scientific indicators and a multidimensional approach, the level of sustainability of each winery is thus measured. Based on this data, far-reaching decisions have been made in all areas of the family business over the past decade to avoid waste and preserve the great heritage.
"Through constant and daily work, sustainability has become an ethic of responsibility in our business: not just a way of doing business, but a lifestyle guided by values and principles that revolve around the common good," says Alberto Tasca. Another important side effect of this path: "Everything tastes better, too," the winemaker laughs delightedly. And this does not go unnoticed by connoisseurs. Because Tasca d'Almerita was awarded "European Winery of the Year" by Falstaff in 2019 thanks to this special way of sustainable winemaking and the positive impact on wine, the environment and other winemakers throughout Italy.
We invite you to get to know this great winery with its 2021 Regaleali white at the wein.plus:club online tastings. Places, available to retailers and restaurateurs as well as private wine lovers, are limited. Register online:
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