LONGARICO
Alcamo
Sicily
Longarico is the small project of two friends: Alessandro Viola and Luigi Stalteri. The former, after graduating in oenology in 2007 moves to Piedmont to work with Donato Lanati. The latter runs a natural wine bar in Bologna. In 2015 they both feel the call to return to their native Sicily and start the Longarico project on the hills of Mount Alcamo.
With the aim of promoting their land, they initially decided to focus on the most representative of the indigenous variety of Alcamo: Catarratto. Today they manage a few hectares of organically farmed vines located in Contrada Fastuchera on calcareous-clay soils.
The very limited use of sulfites, only at bottling, the indigenous yeasts and the lack of any filtration allow for a pure expression of the varietal and the terroir, free from chemical manipulations.
Nostrale
Vintage 2022
Style White
Region Contrada Fastuchera, Alcamo
Varieties Catarratto
ABV
Soils Clay, Calcareous
Farming Organic
Winemaking From vines planted in 2003, grown at 350m above sea level. The vines are Espaller trained and Guyot pruned. Harvest took place between the first and the second week of September. The wine is direct pressed into stainless steel tanks where it is spontaneously fermented. It completes full malolactic fermentation and it is aged on its fine lees for a total of 8 months. This is unfiltered and unfined.
Tasting Note Notes of chamomile, golden pineapple and a herbal lift. The wine is ripe and tropical with some bite and texture on the palate. Aromatic notes and sweet spices come through on the palate.
Catartico
Vintage 2018
Style Orange
Region Contrada Fastuchera, Alcamo
Varieties Catarratto
ABV
Soils Clay, Calcareous
Farming Organic
Winemaking From vines planted in 2003, grown at 350m above sea level. The vines are Espaller trained and Guyot pruned. Harvest took place between the first and the second week of September. The wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts and macerated on the skins for 3 days in stainless steel tanks at 25-30°C. It completes full malolactic fermentation and it is aged on its fine lees for 7 months in chestnut barrels. This is unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note Toast and honey, dried apricot, cedar, hay and quince jam. Round body and textured tannins but they are also ripe and smoothen out. The palate is rich, ripe with a sweet spice finish.
Insolito
Vintage 2018
Style Red
Region Contrada Fastuchera, Alcamo
Varieties Syrah, Nerello Mascalese
ABV
Soils Clay, Calcareous
Farming Organic
Winemaking A blend of Syrah (70%) and Nerello Mascalese (30%). The vines are Spalliera trained and Guyot pruned. The grapes were harvested between the 15th and the 30th of September. The wine is spontaneously fermented in stainless steel and malolactic conversion is completed. This is followed by 7 months on the lees in chestnut barrels. The wine in unfiltered and unfined.
Tasting Note Ripe red plum, dark cherry, rooibos tea and scrubbed herbs alongside a meaty hint on the palate. The tannins are smooth but coating. Ripe and herbal.