Costa delle Parracine

Tenuta Costa delle Parracine, a young project under the umbrella of Feudi di San Gregorio (Tenute Capaldo) in partnership with Tenuta C'est la Vie, is located in the municipality of Forio on Ischia. The winery has around four hectares of terraced vineyards overlooking the sea, which were planted in the early 2000s. The centrepiece is the cellar dating back to 1878, dug entirely into the green tufa of the Epomeo, where the wine is made and aged today as it was then. Embedded in a dramatic volcanic landscape with steep slopes and dry stone walls, the so-called "parracine", the winery combines historical roots with a modern vision for Ischitanian viticulture.

Parracine as guardian of the vines

Wine production on Ischia has very ancient origins, dating back to the early Middle Ages. Finds of amphorae from the 9th century indicate a lively wine trade, and a document from 1036 already attests to widespread cultivation. Monastic communities kept this tradition alive for centuries, always supported by the volcanic soils that characterise the island. Costa delle Parracine consciously takes up this history again: The wine cellar is carved into the tufa, a combination of nature and technology, past and innovation.

Working together for regionality

The project is supported by the Feudi di San Gregorio Group, which has been committed to revitalising southern Italian wine regions for decades, and Tenuta C'est la Vie (Moraschi Besenzoni family). Together, they founded Costa delle Parracine in 2024 to reinterpret the identity of Ischia. Experienced Oenologist Pierpaolo Sirch, who is known for his precise style and terroir-orientated vinification, is responsible for the style. He combines the authenticity of the local vines with the experience of an internationally recognised winemaker. "For us, the Parracine are more than just walls. They are memory and protection, they preserve the rich identity of this island and that is exactly what we want to make visible in the glass", explains Pierpaolo Sirch.

Mineral-rich vineyards

The vineyards are small but full of character. Around 2.5 hectares are planted with Biancolella and 1.5 hectares with Forastera. The vineyards are on average 25 years old and are rooted in soils that are exclusively of volcanic origin and therefore rich in minerals. This interplay of age, location and soil characterises the wines with salty freshness, structure and a clear signature of origin.

The portfolio deliberately comprises just two wines: the single-varietal Biancolella and the equally single-varietal Forastera. Both are vinified cool in stainless steel to emphasise the aromatic clarity and mineral character of the grape varieties. The Biancolella gains texture through extended ageing on the lees, while the Forastera impresses with its taut freshness and subtle finish. Together they form the stylistic foundation of the Tenuta: clear, authentic, characterised by the terroir.

A label with symbolic power

The labels of the Costa delle Parracine deserve special attention. It shows a demarcated area that symbolises the island of Ischia, but also a trace that recalls the parracine – the protective stone walls that have protected land, vines and houses for centuries. Inside the symbol is a rabbit, called Liparina on the island, an animal with great tradition and cultural significance for the people of Ischia. The label itself thus becomes the narrator of a story that connects the land, the people and the wine. SUPERIORE.DE