Terre di Noto, Noto, Sicily...
"Terre di Noto is located in the most southern part of Sicily and Italy, less than 4 km from the Mediterranean Sea, geographically even further south of the North African coast..."
FAMILY BUSINESS, IN SEVERAL KILOMETERS FROM THE TWO SEAS, FOCUSED ON THE SYMBOL OF VINE GRAPE IN THE SICILY TERRITORY, SUCH AS NERO D'AVOLA AND MOSCATO DI NOTO
In Sicilian territory, small businesses claim that they are focused on quality. As a family company Terre di Noto, born in 1989, thanks to the oenologist Nino Di Marco. About 40 hectares of vineyards, oriented to the local vines of this region, Nero d'Avola and Moscato di Noto. The company is at the end of biological transformation and is part of the sustainable development program developed at the Catholic University of Milan, which includes the best Sicilian companies such as Planeta and Tasca d'Almerita.
On the questions "YR" is the owner and winemaker Antonino Di Marco
1 -The history of creating your favorite white (yellow color) wine.
The history of my favorite white wine is that of “Liame”, an 85% Chardonnay plus 15% of white Muscat. It was a bet combining an international variety like Chardonnay with a local variety like "Moscato". Result: a powerful yellow wine that expresses strong personality in smell and body.
2 - Your winery is at the southernmost point of Sicily. At what distance from the sea are the vineyards and how does this affect your wines?
Terre di Noto is located in the most southern part of Sicily and Italy, less than 4 km from the Mediterranean Sea, geographically even further south of the North African coast. The dominance of the winds coming from the south that cross the sea, make sure that the company is always affected by cool breezes and the ventilation creates an environment favorable to the cultivation of the vineyard and hostile to the development of diseases. Furthermore, in our wines we perceive a marked saltiness.
3 - What is your favorite wine (red or white)? And why?
My favorite wine is undoubtedly the Calauris; Nero d’Avola is native from this area and deserves my respect for its unique characteristics and its intrinsic qualities.
4 - List, if possible, a set (gift box) of four own wines (red and white), which, in your opinion, can adequately represent your farm
For red wines I would say Nichea and Calauris, two Nero d'Avola with different styles. The Nichea with short aging in wood and normal alcohol content. The Calauris of greater structure, higher alcohol content and prolonged aging in wood; a really powerful wine.
For whites the "Liame", with structure and alcohol content almost like red wine; while the "Lapalicca" is the maximum expression of the "Passito" wine: typical aroma of muscat mixed with orange blossom, white flowers, dried figs and dates, a triumph of aromas held together by the sweetness of residual sugars (about 150 gr./litro) that make it perfect as a meditation and dessert wine.
5 - “Balata Rosso” Nero d’Avola, Balata White, Balata White
Grillo, Liame Chardonnay Moscato, “Lapalicca” Moscato Passito di Noto... You can ask you to arrange these wines on a pedestal: first place, second, etc.
Difficult to make a pleasing scales when you produce wines within a farm with the grapes that you have cultivated yourself, it is almost like asking a father which of your children do you prefer ... .., but I can indicate which wine I prefer based on particular moments and events. In the great convivial events to accompany the great cuisine surely Calauris, Nichea and Liame; Lapalicca at the end of the meal with some sweets. The Balata line for daily consumption, an evening aperitif, lighter wines that are easy to consume.
6 - What is your favorite restaurant in Noto? And what would you recommend? Where, in addition to the winery, can try your wine?
Noto has a good level of catering, difficult to do rankings, I find it convenient for its location and excellent cuisine the “Dammuso”, while all our wines are located within the Wine - Roads Wine Shop and Pitittu di Sicilia Wine Shop.
7 -Your Choice for the Yellow Road of white (yellow) wine?
The intense yellow wine is our Passito Lapalicca, DOC Noto Passito.
8 - Do you prefer (it's important for you) the color of the wine?
Certainly, it influences the person in the same way as when looking at a girl, the colors of the clothes are part of the sphere of liking
9 - You can offer the most spectacular view (favorite point) on vineyards or the surrounding landscape.
From the terrace of the winery from our company, the whole panorama is a breathtaking scenery: from the vineyards surrounding the farm, to the distant view of the Mediterranean sea and a little earlier the scenery of the "Pantani Longarini", natural water mirrors rich in birds and migratory fauna (nature reserve).
10- What cultural event would you like to see at home: an exhibition, an opera, a ballet or something else?
Surely a cabaret, intelligent, that invite you to smile, that give positivity to life and invite you to drink a good glass of wine in company and joy.
11 - Your vineyards are located in fantastically beautiful places. Have you thought about building your own tourist way...
We are thinking about enhancing enotourist hospitality. Terre di Noto, thanks to its favorable geographical position, is an excellent base for the stay of wine tourists who can later travel to famous tourist destinations: Marzamemi, Noto, Ispica, the beaches of Vendicari and Calamosche, Siracusa, just to mention the most famous ones , but also Modica, Scicli and Ragusa Ibla.
12 - Which white wine producer (from Italy or another country) would you recommend for the Yellow Road?
The winery Gulino from Siracusa (Enofanusa) that produces excellent white wines and more.
Sergey Evtuhov,author of the project
