When you speak about the wines of eastern Sicily and especially the wines from the soils of Mount Etna, Sicily’s famous, majestic volcano, it is impossible to not mention the name Salvo Foti. A native of the city of Catania, Salvo studied enology and began his career in 1981 as a technical and agrarian advisor to noted estates that today are universally recognized amongst the best in Sicily. But it is still working with and for someone else; Salvo wanted his own project to really make a wine that sings.
A number of years ago, Salvo’s love of the grapes and soils of Etna led him to initiate a project called I Vigneri. It takes its name from an association that existed in the Etna region in 1435, Maestranzi dei Vigneri, an association of vineyard workers that greatly influenced the wine culture of the region. Today, I Vigneri is an association between Salvo Foti, local vine experts and grape growers who bring their long experience among the particular vines of to their work in the vineyard and cellar.
There is nothing used in the vineyards except copper/sulfur mix. No fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides are used. The grapes are harvested by hand at the end of September until mid-october. Fermentations are done in open oak vats, without enzymes or thermal control (the nights by this time of year are quite cold). There is very little sulfur used on the grapes or must, if at all. Racking and bottling are done under lunar cycle. The wines are bottled with little or no filtration.
This is a breathtaking estate with a mission to make great wines. Furthermore, it is an association that is pulling from the experience and energy of local grape growing talent and giving them a vested interest to create great wines in a region that is economically challenging for many of its inhabitants, especially farmers.
Salvo says that a living wine has its own composition that arises from its own variables: the grape, the vine, the vineyard, the climatic conditions and the individual (vineyard worker and vinifier). It’s important that there is harmony and respect for each variable to make a wine that truly sings.
- Vino Rosso I Vigneri