Tornatore

The beginning of grape cultivation, with the production of wine, brought forward by the Tornatore Family, dates back to 1865, when the great grandfather of the current owner began the farming activity. In 1910 the Grandfather Giuseppe built a house with a millstone in the district of Piano Fiera with adjacent 2 hectares of vineyards in addition to other two hectares on the North side of the Etna, in the district of Piano Felci at 1,000 m above sea level. The Tornatore family has always had a detailed knowledge of the territories of the town of Castiglione di Sicilia since Grandfather Giuseppe and Uncle Giovanni were appointed land registry makers at the beginning of the thirties, accompanying the surveyor to detect cadastral parcels, to define boundaries and names of the local districts. In that same period dates also the construction of an oil- mill annex to the winery, which has been active through all technological evolutions until the ‘70s. Thus a Family with deep roots in their territory of origin, which in the following generations never neglected affection and respect to it and to the traditions.

The Company Today
Tornatore Company boasts about 100 hectares of land on the territory, all in the Municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia. The agricultural activity of the Company is based on 60 hectares of vineyards, 8 hectares of olive groves and 5 hectares of hazelnut groves, the rest is in a fase of riconversion, as a consequence, Tornatore’s vineyards are one of the largest of the Etna DOC production area. Tornatore’s vineyards count several locations in different districts: among them the remarkable contrade of Bragaseggi, Piano dei Daini, Zottorinotto, Pietrarizzo, Malpasso, Pietramarina, Torre Guarino, Carranco and Trimarchisa, all in the Castiglione di Sicilia Municipality. The altitude ranges from 550 to 700 meters above sea level and the age of the vineyards varies from 3 to 40 years for the Reds and 3 to 10 years for the Whites. The Company’s vineyards have been recently reorganized in order to improve the quality standards and maintain the bond both with the territory and the winemaking traditions (high plant density, rigidly native variety). However, where possible, particular attention has been given to the mechanization of our vineyards. Therefore, the training system chosen for our vines is that of the spurred cordon espalier. The company also boasts 3 hectares of sapling traning system of vines (alberello). The existing vines are Etna’s native in compliance with the rules of Etna DOC wines production in particular:

Red Berry: Nerello Mascalese and Nero Cappuccio
White Berry: Carricante and Catarratto

The Territory
The company lies in the northern side of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe.
The soils have volcanic origin and are derived from the disintegration of the masses of lava, ashes and lapilli. Generally these soils are formed on site (native) or carried by rainwater which, in some flat areas on the slopes of the volcano, resulted in large black valleys, deep and very fertile.
The climate on the northern side of the Etna is characterized by mild temperatures, reflecting the influence of the mountain reliefs from that side (Nebrodi). The result is a late maturing environment in consequence of the exposure and the predominant altitude that promotes strong thermal excursions.
The combination of soil, climate and the skill of the winemakers, have made the northern slope of Etna an ideal area for the production of high quality wines.

Harvest & Winemaking
The grape harvest is done by hand. Subsequently transported in special crates, the grapes are vinified in a modern winery capable of maintaining high standards of quality, with maximum respect for the tradition. The grapes are selected and processed manually in order to better enhance the characteristics of each vineyard. Aged in oak barrels located in a completely buried rooms, with insulation made of Etna basalt blocks arranged on walls and floor of the cellar in a workmanlike manner. The wines produced are all DOC wines, Etna Red, White, Rosé and Sparkling one. The winery has the latest modern equipment, but made with low environmental impact with maximum respect of the surroundings. For the operation of the winery renewable energy sources are used, in order to lower the environmental impact.

Sustainability
Tornatore winery since is born as an Agricultural Company in the territory of Castiglione di Sicilia on the north side of the Etna Volcano, aims to protect the traditions and the territory that surrounds it. Choosing natural soil processing techniques, thoroughly analyzing the subsoil and its geological characteristics, studying and optimizing the position of the vineyards. Although we are still in the process of converting to organic, we do not use treatments such as insecticides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers, in fact, we only use organic ones such as humus and organic matter. We take care of our 70 hectares of vineyards by practicing operations for the containment of weeds. We only use mechanical operations on row and inter row with inter strain tools that guarantee the total elimination of weeds without resorting to the aid of herbicides, all of which is translates into a complete containment of the aforementioned herbs in a mechanical and natural way with total respect for the soil on which our vines grow. However enriching them with organic substances deriving from both the shredding of green manure and from the weeds themselves. These interventions allow us to naturally guarantee the healthy growth of our grapes. So, having an excellent raw material that allows us to produce wines without the use of chemicals. The use of renewable sources through a solar panel system also allows us to be environmentally sustainable also in terms of energy.