“Tenuta Valle delle Ferle” is located few kilometers far from Caltagirone, inside the area named “DOCG”, in the heart of the most ancient path of wine never identified. This area, according to archaeologist Hubert Allen, starts from Gela-Kamarina and, going across Niscemi and Vittoria’ hills, gets to Caltagirone, then continues to Lentini and finally to Catania. Here, more than forty years ago, Nero D’Avola and Frappato vineyards owned by “Tenuta Valle delle Ferle” have been planted and its wine born.
the history
Two young entrepreneurs had a dream that became true: they wanted to tell the story, the art and the tradition of their landscape through the wine. Just through a simple taste, this wine is able to pass all the emotions that come from this peculiar landscape. “Tenuta Valle delle Ferle” is the result of this project and of a deep passion and respect for the landscape and the grapevine, with a special care that allowed biological regime conversion. In this magic place you can learn the wine, see closely how it’s produced and taste it during tasting in the vinery and guided tours in the vineyard.
Form this passion and objectives borns the project to get “Tenuta Valle delle Ferle” a place of wine and nature lovers hospitality. It’s a charming place where you can stay inside an ancient house lost in the vineyard, taste typical Sicilian plates and be in direct contact with Sicily and its smells.
the winery
Modernity deepened in the tradition. The winery has been set up inside an ancient palmento surrounded by olive trees and vineyard, with all the most modern tools and technologies needed to make biological wine with a unique taste.
Grapes are collected during first two weeks of September and put in little boxes to avoid any damage. After a soft pressing that preserves grape berry peels, wine grape is transferred in thermos regulated fermenters and constantly monitored to guarantee texture, color, smell and refinement of the wine. Subsequently wine is extracted through an horizontal press and rests in steel barrels till final bottling.
the vineyard
Planted in 1974, the vineyards of “Tenuta Valle delle Ferle” are now in biological regime and consist of 10 hectares of grapevines of Nero D’Avola and Frappato, all extended inside DOCG “Cerasuolo di Vittoria” area. The seniority of the grapevines is a sign of superior quality thanks to the higher capabilities of expressing texture and aromaticity of the landscape.
An additional value is also provided by the climate of this place that’s ideal for a vineyard: thermal excurisions between day and night enrich complexity and the elegant aroma of the wine; while the strong and continuous ventilation reduces risk of pathogenic fungus. Grapevines are constantly illuminated by the sun during the day and climate, usually droughty during the period of grapes maturation, provides texture and consistency to the wine.
wines
DENOMINATION OF ORIGIN: Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
GRAPE: Nero d’Avola 50% Frappato 50%
LOG BY HA: 4000 raised by ramming cordon in a biological regime
AVERAGE YIELD PER YEAR: 20q/HA
BOTTLES PRODUCED: 16000
TYPE OF LAND: alluvional origin, mainly sandy and clayey of medium mixture, rich of skeleton.
HARVESTING: manual
WINEMAKING: done in steel barrels at controlled temperature with 7-10 days maceration
MATURATION: in steel barrel in contact with fine dregs and three months in bottle
PAIRING: dishes with elaborate and spicy meat, long aging cheeses
ANALYTIC DATA OF THE WINE: alcohol 13,0; total acidity 6,2; pH 3,40
DENOMINATION OF ORIGIN: DOC Vittoria
GRAPE: 100% Frappato
LOG BY HA: 4000 raised by ramming cordon in a biological regime
AVERAGE YIELD PER YEAR: 20q/HA
BOTTLES PRODUCED: 3300
TYPE OF LAND: alluvional origin, mainly sandy and clayey of medium mixture, rich of skeleton.
HARVESTING: manual with special selection of the grapes based on both sanitary and maturation side
WINEMAKING: done in steel barrels at controlled temperature with 8-10 days maceration
MATURATION: in steel barrel in contact with fine dregs and three months in bottle
PAIRING: first course vegetables based , fresh and middle aging cheeses
ANALYTIC DATA OF THE WINE: alcohol 13,0; total acidity 6,4; pH 3,35
DENOMINATION OF ORIGIN: DOC Vittoria
GRAPE: Nero d’Avola 100%
LOG BY HA: 4000 raised by ramming cordon in a biological regime
AVERAGE YIELD PER YEAR: 20q/HA
BOTTLES PRODUCED: 3300
TYPE OF LAND: alluvional origin, mainly sandy and clayey of medium mixture, rich of skeleton.
HARVESTING: manual with special selection of the grapes based on both sanitary and maturation side
WINEMAKING: done in steel barrels at controlled temperature with 7-10 days maceration
MATURATION: in steel barrel in contact with fine dregs and three months in bottle
PAIRING: elaborated and spicy first courses, cold cuts and medium aging cheeses
ANALYTIC DATA OF THE WINE: alcohol 13,0; total acidity 6,5; pH 3,30
DENOMINATION OF ORIGIN: DOC Sicilia
GRAPES: 50% Nero d’Avola, 50% Frappato;
VINES PER HECTARES: 5000 spurred cordon bred in organic conduction;
AVERAGE ANNUAL YELD: 20 q/ha
BOTTLES PRODUCED: 400
TYPE OF SOIL: floodplain origin, mostly sandy clay soil of medium texture, stony rich
HARVESTING: by hand
WINE MAKING: vinified in used oak barrique
AGING: in used oak barrique for 6 months
PAIRING: it can be paired with raw fish, stewed fish, fresh cheeses and grilled vegetables
ANALYTICAL DATA OF THE WINE: alcohol 12,5; total acidity 6,30 g/l
oil
They say Sicily is the door of the olive introduction in Europe because olives have millenary tradition since Magna Grecia’s age.
Among the several varieties of olives, those named “Tonda Iblea” is the most typical one in Sicily as it’s very often found on the sides of citrus, almond or vineyard.
In the “Tenuta Valle delle Ferle” you will find this landscape as well: through the main entrance you get in a driveway surrounded by secular olive trees.
There are about 500 plants of “Tonda Iblea” (so called “Prunara” by local countrymen) carefully cultivated in a biological regime that produce an extra virgin aromatic oil a bit spicy that, paired with Sicilian tradition plates or simply with a piece of bread, gives unique sensation to the palate.
More than 3000 years ago, captured by the elegance, texture and taste of Sicilian wines, Aegean dealers sailed to Kamarina harbor in the south-east costs of Siciliy. Once arrived to cost of Gela-Kamarina, crossing Niscemi and Vittoria hills, they got to Caltagirone.
Here, dealers bought terracotta pots in which they poured the so much desired wine. Then some of them returned home immediately, others kept on travelling to Lentini and Catania and then re-started their sail back to home.
This path, that goes across the cities of Kamarina, Comiso, Vittoria, Acata, Caltagirone, Lentini and Catania , is the oldest never identified. “Tenuta Valle delle Ferle” is located exactly along this path.
For this reason, visiting the vinery can be a good opportunity to go through this path of which Caltagirone and Kamarina Museums still retain many findings like terracotta amphorae and cups for wine.
Through this path, not only you can taste and discover all local wines, but also you can be in contact with the nature, know the history and admire the beautiful landscape.
“Tenuta Valle delle Ferle” is very close to an archeological area in which pieces of ceramics of Greek age have been found as proof of the ancient ceramic tradition of Caltagirone, beautiful baroque city very famous for its ceramic art.
Symbol of the city is in fact “Santa Maria del Monte” stairs, made up with 142 steps different one from the other and decorated with multicolour tiles and majolica.
During May, thousands of flower pots are placed on the steps to create a unique and big drawing in honor of the “Madonna di Conadomini”.
In July and August, in honor of Saint Giacomo and during celebration of “Maria SS.ma del Ponte”, thousands of colored lights cover the steps creating awesome scenic effect.
Another place of interest is the regional museum of Ceramics, where thousands of findings are collected as proof of an ancient tradition that in Caltagirone is handed down since millennia.
Caltagirone is not only famous for ceramics. In fact, you can also visit Civic Museum, Historical and Contemporary Photography Museum, archeological places of Sant’Ippolito and of the “Montagna” and, above all, its Old Town that thanks to the baroque architectures, it’s now part of UNESCO heritage.