Tenuta Palmeri and town Avola…
Tenuta Palmeri and its towns: Avola, directly on the
sea, picturesque. Noto, a beautiful Baroque city. Syracuse, lively, glad, the largest city in Sicily for centuries. And Catania: lively, full of energy and this fantastic fish market. Modica and Ragusa. Discover! And culture: The Romans were there, before the Greeks, and even today you can see that there is a lot to admire and to experience.
Beach, bay and canyon
Tenuta Palmeri and its nature: the sea, the beaches, «Avola Lido», the bay «Calamosche», the seaside resort «Vendicari», a nature reserve, the most important wetland in Sicily, and the «Cava Grande». In this canyon, in the heat of the Sicilian summer, you can enjoy a bath in cool fresh water - in the midst of imposing rock formations.
The main house of Tenuta was built in the 1930s and since then serves the lords as a residence. Today, it still looks almost exactly as the previous owners, the Lutri family, had established. Including the pictures and photos.
Vineyards are owned by the Breitschmid family:
Ueli Breitschmid, Erika Breitschmid-Heiniger, Christine Breitschmid, Nora Breitschmid, Carla Breitschmid...
Tenuta Palmeri was originally acquired for recreation, for the holidays. That's why organic farming, biodiversity, natural resources, mechanical tillage. And even in the pool, there is no chlorine, but there are salts that act against the formation of algae.
The questions of "YR" are answered by the owner Erika Breitschmid-Heiniger
1) Let's use this situation, that the Breitschmid family owns three wineries: Weingut Sitenrain in Meggen (Switzerland),Tenuta Palmeri in Avola (Italy), Palmeri Sicilia in Tabuenca (Spain).
Wine Palmeri Sicily, the only wine of the Spanish winery and this red wine? But, in a nutshell, about the Great Gold Medal of this wine in 2018.
It’s correct that we produce only this one red wine in Spain. The winery was created in 2012 and is our latest project. In the region of Campo de Borja we have very old Garnacha vines that produce concentrated and powerful fruit.
We’re very happy that with our third vintage, we could already win a Grand Gold Medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. We were even named the “Revelation Spain” of the concours, we never expected such an award and we’re very thankful.
- We know from reliable sources that the path of Don Quixote the way ran slightly to the south of Zaragoza. But, maybe, that not all documents of the Cervantes era are studied. You on your winery, by chance, did not find the footprints of the famous knight?
Our winery is about 50 km west of Zaragoza. The route of Don Quixote is believed to pass Zaragoza and probably to pass by close to where we’re located.
So far, however, we could not find any traces of the knight in our vineyards.
- The traditional question for winemakers: What is your favorite wine (red or white)? And why?
In my opinion, the magic of wine is that you can choose your wine according to the circumstances and don’t need to have one favourite.
Now in summer I usually prefer our white wines, the Palmeri Bianco or our Souvignier Gris from our Sitenrain Winery as an aperitif, and with food our Solaris.
Other times, I might choose one of our red wines, our elegant Maréchal Foch for example, or the more powerful Palmeri Blu. It all changes depending on my mood, the weather of the people I’m with.
4) In the Weingut Sitenrain collection in Meggen (Switzerland) there are several white wines. What kind of white wine can you offer for the Yellow Road?
In Switzerland, we have two different white grape varieties. Souvignier Gris and Solaris. Both of these varieties are modern crossings that are resistant to fungus. This allows us to produce organic wine.
Souvignier Gris is a wine with a lot of minerality and freshness. Solaris is more aromatic and has more body. We also produce a Solaris that ages 12 months in Barriques.
- List, if possible, a set (gift box) of 4-6 own wines (red and white), which, in your opinion, can adequately represent your farms (Switzerland, Italy, Spain).
Sitenrain Solaris
Sitrenrain Maréchal Foch
Palmeri Bianco
Palmeri Blu
Palmeri Rosso
Palmeri Navalta
6) You can offer the most spectacular view (favorite point) on vineyards or the surrounding landscape: Weingut Sitenrain in Meggen (Switzerland), Tenuta Palmeri in Avola (Italy), Palmeri Sicilia in Tabuenca (Spain)
I really love the view from the Sitenrain hill over our farmhouse towards lake Lucerne. You have a magnificent view of the lake and the alps.
Our winery in Sicily is in Avola, a charming town on the east coast of the island. When you walk up in our vineyards you can see spectacular sunrises over the Mediterranean sea.
In Spain, the scene I’m most impressed with is standing in the vineyards. Those old plants that grow in the bright red soil. the Nava Alta mountain range in the back that seems to go on forever. When there’s no wind you really think that time stands still.
- What cultural event would you like to see at home: an exhibition, an opera, a ballet or something else? Do you have your own playground for exhibitions or concerts?
In all our wineries we host many events during the year. It’s a big pleasure to welcome all these people at our events and spend time with them.
One event I like in particular is the NON-Openair that takes place at our Sitenrain Winery. It’s a non-profit concert organised by a group of young, creative people.
8) Tenuta Palmeri in Avola (Italy), what of white wine can you offer for the Yellow Road?
We produce two white wines:
Palmeri Bianco, which is a blend of Grillo and Moscato – it combines the freshness and character of Grillo with the intense aromatics of Moscato.
Our second white wine is Palmeri Bianco Vintage. It’s a blend of Chardonnay and Moscato that spends a year in barriques. It is a powerful and elegant white wine with exotic aromatics.
9) What is your favorite restaurant in Avola, Noto? And what would you recommend? Where, in addition to the winery, tourists can try your wine?
I recommend you try the «La Taverna del Pescatore” in Avola. It’s right on the shore. They make the best fish.
10) Which white wine producer (from Italy or another country) would you recommend for the Yellow Road?
You should write about Juan José and Ilaria from Viña Cerron. This young couple produces characterful wines. They own impressive, old vines which need a lot of care and produce wines that are worth all the hard work!
Sergey Evtuhov, author of the project
