2013 Ariddu, Grillo, Valdibella, Camporeale, Sicily

2013 Ariddu, Grillo, Valdibella, Camporeale, Sicily

Product: 29078
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2013 Ariddu, Grillo, Valdibella, Camporeale, Sicily

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Description

The small cooperative of Valdibella have followed up their debut 2012 vintage with this equally moreish 2013 Grillo (Ariddu in the local dialect) from the hills close to Palermo. Made without oak and using organic fruit, this light, bright, nutty, white-peach and acacia-honeyed wine brings Sicily's sun and the salty sea-breezes to life. There's something hazlenutty, chardonnay-on-toast about it. On the palate it has more of a roasted-almond flavour, so clearly expressed through the clean fruit. It's deliciously fresh, as well as being distinctly soft and fleshy. A real 'anytime white' to be enjoyed as an alternative aperitivo or with light antipasti.
David Berry Green

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About this WINE

Valdibella, Sicily

Valdibella, Sicily

Valdibella started in 1998 with the setting up a Salesian community to support the local youth of Camporeale in Sicily, and eventually it grew into a farming cooperative in 2000. Today, the cooperative offers a new way for local landowners: a real alternative to that of selling fruit (but also almonds and olives) to huge cooperatives, whose activities are closely tied to those of the big brands. In a spirit of solidarity, the Valdibella cooperative refuses to pay the mafia protection money (as per the logo ‘AddioPizzo’), while sharing its values with the local community.

They farm their 220ha (of which 70 are vineyards) organically (certified), vinified in a new cantina, under the direction of both Belgian winemaker Benoit de Coster and their consultant Vincenzo Drago. The first bottled and labelled vintage was in 2009. They also make two wines, a white and a red, without the addition of sulphur dioxide at bottling. Viticulturally the focus of Valdibella is on autochthonous (grape) varieties, notably Catarratto (Lucido, Extra-Lucido and Comune), Grillo, red Nero d’Avola, and Perricone. But they also grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Muller-Thurgau.

The 220ha are located around the town of Camporeale, with the vineyards at between 300 – 500 msl, on leached red ‘regosuolo’, a lime and clay mix, over sedimentary soils. The vineyards are well ventilated, facilitating organic agriculture, and extending the date of harvest until late in the season. They are working on a system of reducing the amount of copper and sulphur used in the vineyard. No chemicals are used.

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