Cantina Settesoli

The Cantine Settesoli in Menfi, Agrigento Province, is not only the largest winery in Sicily and a source of ideas for an entire region, but is also one of the most innovative companies on the largest Mediterranean island. Diego Planeta, the man who led the mega co-operative for decades with a light hand, helped 2,300 winegrowers with a vineyard area of about 6,500 hectares to great recognition as a highly respected personality of the Sicilian wine scene. With him as president and Carlo Corino as advisor, Settesoli experienced a great heyday. The enormous potential of international grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Merlot was recognised and realised early on in the winery located in the southwest of Sicily. The top line Mandrarossa combines such grape varieties with the native varieties Nero d'Avola, Grillo and Grecanico. Since 2012, manager Vito Varvaro, who had previously worked in the team of his famous and prudent predecessor, has been in charge of the cooperative winery's fortunes.

The different soil conditions on the cultivated areas of the winegrowers who belong to the cooperative - Settesoli means translated into German "Seven floors" - contributes decisively to consolidating Sicily's reputation as a region for the production of high-quality wines.

Since the beginning of the nineties, the winegrowers have also been giving the ambitious project "Mandrarossa"where the best labels of the winegrowers' cooperative are bundled. The grapes thrive on the south coast near the beach with a view of Africa and are the result of a successful symbiosis of light, temperature and sea breeze. The renowned oenologist Alberto Antonini brings out the best of the meticulously selected grapes in the cellar. The charming and characterful wines from the Mandrarossa line not only delight wine lovers with their concentrated fruit, but also convince them with their structure and finesse. The top of the Settesoli range consists of about the same number of grape varieties and site wines.

In an experimental vineyard, varieties such as Viognier, Alicante Bouchet and Chenin Blanc are cultivated in the winegrowers' cooperative, which is also known for its numerous base wines. After such experiments, the Fiano has become a defining element of regional viticulture. SUPERIORE.DE