Azienda Agricola Porta del Vento
Marco Sferlazzo
Camporeal
On the beautiful island of Sicily, near the western coast, there's a sandy hill that looks out over the mountaintops and down on the beaches of Palermo. It's high enough and costal enough for a constant wine to blow cool air through the old vines, a perfect microclimate for southern grapes. So, Marco Sferlazzo called his winery Porta del Vento, or the door to the wind.
It's a beautiful place, but also a very important one for two highly endangered and highly delicious varieties: Perricone and Catarratto. Almost 20 years ago, Marco was working in the small village of Camporeale as a pharmacist. He was a wine lover and dreamed of a life in the vineyards. He learned about this sandy hill where these indigenous varieties he loved were growing older. When a commercial winery threatened to buy the land and pull up the vines to plant a more generic, international variety, he took his chance, got a mortgage and started his winery.
At the time, there were less than 20 ha of Perricone left in existence, and today Marco's are some of the oldest. Him and his son, Marco Jr., have converted all the vineyards to organic and biodynamic, and have built an incredible, natural winery where most of their wines are made without additions. In the service of preservation and celebration, the winery has focused on the versatility of these varieties, making everything from quaffable frizzante (Voria), to Georgian-styled amphora macerations, to extracted reds with years in Slavonian oak. Also Grappa!
There are no bad wines in the lot and we feel so lucky to represent this place in the United States. Happily, thanks in large part to the Marcos, both Perricone and Catarratto have made a huge comeback in the region and in Sicily more broadly.
NV
“Grapparosa”
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
Artisanal method, discontinuous distillation in small boilers. Aged 18 months in small stainless steel tanks.
Brut Nature "Mira"
VARIETY : Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Second fermentation in bottle by adding must to the base wine.
20 months on the lees before disgorgement.
Blanc de Noir "Lyr" Spumante
VARIETY : Perricone blanc de noir
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Second fermentation in bottle by adding must to the base wine.
15 months on lees before disgorgement.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Voria" Bianco NV
VARIETY : Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Fermentation in cement tanks
Second fermentation in bottle by adding must to the base wine. Not filtered and not disgorged.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Voria" Orange Frizzante NV
VARIETY : Catarratto / Grillo
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Grapes are de-stemmed, fermentation in cement vats for 4 months on noble lees.
Separately macerated, blended and aged together. Second fermentation in bottle occurs after adding must to the base wine. Not filtered and not disgorged.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Voria" Rosato NV
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Fermentation in cement tanks
Second fermentation in bottle by adding must to the base wine. Not filtered and not disgorged.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Voria" Rosso NV
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR : Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Fermentation in Cement Tanks
Second fermentation in bottle by adding must to the base wine. Not filtered and not disgorged.
IGP Terre Siciliane Maque Rosso NV
VARIETY : 60% Nero d’Avola / 40% Perricone
TERROIR :
Sandy soil with presence of sandstone rock. North-South exposure.
550 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in late September.
VINIFICATION :
Grapes de-stemmed after cold pre-fermentation. 10 day maceration, malolactic in cement tanks. Aged 12 months in cement tanks.
Aged in bottle 6 months.
IGP Terre Siciliane “Altroverso” NV
VARIETY : Nerello Mascalese
TERROIR :
Sandy soil with presence of sandstone rock. North-South exposure.
550 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked.
VINIFICATION :
Grapes de-stemmed after cold pre-fermentation. 8 day maceration, in concrete
Aged in bottle 6 months in concrete.
2021
DOC Monreale "Catarratto" 2021
VARIETY : Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION :
Six months in cement tanks
IGP Terre Siciliane "Saharay" 2021
VARIETY : Macerated Catarratto
TERROIR : Sandy Soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Catarratto bianco de-stemmed and fermented with a skin contact for 30 days in concrete vats at a controlled temperature, soft pressing in hydraulic press. Aged for twelve months in 25 hl oak casks. Aged in bottle 4-6 months.
IGP Terre Siciliane “Falling Moon” / “Luna Calante” 2021
VARIETY : Macerated Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy Soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Fermented with skin contact for 30 days, traditional vinification in open concrete vats at a room temperature of about 24 degrees, frequent hand-pressing over 24 hours. Soft pressing in hydraulic press. Aged for ten months in stainless steel tanks.
2022
DOC Sicilia "Ishac" 2021
VARIETY : Nero d'Avola
TERROIR : 450 meters in altitude, North-South exposure, clay. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in early September
VINIFICATION :
Destemming after cooling.
Malolactic fermentation for 10-12 days in cement tanks. Aged in large casks for 12 months + 6 months in bottle.
DOC Monreale "Perricone" 2021
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR :
Limestone
600 meters in altitude facing north-south.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
60 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST :
hand picked in early October
VINIFICATION : Grapes are destemmed and fermented at a controlled cold temperature. Malolactic fermentation occurs in cement tanks. Aged 12 months in 25 hl oak casks. Aged 6 months in bottle.
2020
DOC Monreale “Catarratto” 2020
VARIETY : Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy soil, 600 meters in altitude, North-South exposure. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION :
Grapes destemmed, soft pressed.
Aged in concrete on lees for 18 months.
Aged in bottle for 4 months.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Anfora Bianco" 2020
VARIETY : Various indigenous grapes from the vineyard.
TERROIR :
Sandy soil, 600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION :
Grapes de-stemmed after cooling, maceration on skins in amphora. Aged for 6 months in amphora.
Aged in bottle for 6 months.
2019
IGP Terre Siciliane "Anfora Bianco" 2019
VARIETY : Various indigenous grapes from the vineyard.
TERROIR :
Sandy soil, 600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION :
Grapes de-stemmed after cooling, maceration on skins in amphora. Aged for 6 months in amphora.
Aged in bottle for 6 months.
DOC Sicilia “Grillo” 2019
VARIETY : Grillo
TERROIR :
70 year old vines, sandy soil, 600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION :
Destemming of the grapes after cooling, short maceration on skins, soft pressing.
Aged in cement tanks on lees for 6 months.
Aged in bottle for 4 months.
IGP Terre Siciliane “Luna Calante” 2019
VARIETY : Macerated Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy Soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Fermented with skin contact for 30 days, traditional vinification in open concrete vats at a room temperature of about 24 degrees, frequent hand-pressing over 24 hours. Soft pressing in hydraulic press. Aged for ten months in stainless steel tanks.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Catarratto" 2019
VARIETY : Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION :
Six months in cement tanks
IGP Terre Siciliane "Saharay" 2017
VARIETY : Macerated Catarratto
TERROIR : Sandy Soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Catarratto bianco de-stemmed and fermented with a skin contact for 30 days in concrete vats at a controlled temperature, soft pressing in hydraulic press. Aged for twelve months in 25 hl oak casks. Aged in bottle 4-6 months.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Maqué" Rose 2019
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR :
Limestone
600 meters in altitude facing north-south.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION : Destemmed grapes, soft pressed into cement tanks on the lees for 3 months.
Aged 3 more months in bottle.
IGP Terre Siciliane "ARCAI Anfora Rosso" 2019
VARIETY : Estate’s indigenous varietals
TERROIR :
Sandy and clay soils.
600 meters in altitude facing north-south.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION : Grapes de-stemmed and cooled. Maceration in Amphora where malolactic fermentation occurs. Aged in Amphora 6 months and in bottle 6 months.
DOC Sicilia “Ishac” 2019
VARIETY : Nero d'Avola
TERROIR : 450 meters in altitude, North-South exposure, clay. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in early September
VINIFICATION :
Destemming after cooling.
Malolactic fermentation for 10-12 days in cement tanks. Aged in large casks for 12 months + 6 months in bottle.
2018
IGP Terre Siciliane "Ishac" 2018
VARIETY : Nero d'Avola
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude facing north-south.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION : Grapes are destemmed and fermented at a controlled cold temperature. Malolactic fermentation occurs in cement tanks. Aged 12 months in 25 hl oak casks. Aged 6 months in bottle.
IGP Terre Siciliane “Trebbi” 2018
VARIETY : Trebbiano
TERROIR :
Over 70 years old sapling vines in sandy soil. 600 meters in altitude, North-South exposure. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION : Destemming of the grapes after cooling in cellar. Short maceration with skins.
Soft pressing and fermentation in steel tanks.
Aged in steel tanks on noble lees for 4-6 months.
Aged 4 months in bottle.
2017
IGP Terre Siciliane "Maqué" 2017
VARIETY :
60 % Nero d'Avola / 40 % Perricone
TERROIR :
Sandy soil / Limestone
600 meters in altitude facing north-south.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST :
hand picked in late September / early October
VINIFICATION : Grapes are destemmed and fermented at a controlled cold temperature. Malolactic fermentation occurs in cement tanks. Aged 12 months in cement tanks. Aged 6 months in bottle.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Perricone" 2017
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR :
Limestone
600 meters in altitude facing north-south.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST :
hand picked in early October
VINIFICATION : Grapes are destemmed and fermented at a controlled cold temperature. Malolactic fermentation occurs in cement tanks. Aged 12 months in 25 hl oak casks. Aged 6 months in bottle.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Saharay" 2017
VARIETY : Macerated Catarratto
TERROIR : Sandy Soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Catarratto bianco fermented with a skin contact for 30 days in concrete vats at a controlled temperature, soft pressing in hydraulic press. Aged for twelve months in 25 hl oak casks.
2016
IGP Terre Siciliane "Ishac" 2016
VARIETY : Nero d'Avola
TERROIR : Porta del vento, extends for eighteen hectares on the hills of the territory of Camporeale in the province of Palermo, at about 600 meters of altitude, in the area of Alcamo doc and Monreale doc, of which fourteen are planted with vineyards. Sandy soils on sandstone crust. Vineyards are mainly cultivated with "alberello" system and are almost fifty years old, exposed to the north following the steep slopes of the land. Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in early September
VINIFICATION :
Fermentation in cement tanks
Aging in large casks for at least twelve months.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Maqué" 2016
VARIETY :
Nero d'Avola / Perricone Rosé
TERROIR :
600m North of Palermo (Comporeal)
70 year old vines Sandstone, Calc bedrock Red Clay soil. Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : Hand picked in mid-October
VINIFICATION :
Fermented in stainless steel
IGP Terre Siciliane "Perricone" 2016
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR : Porta del vento, extends for eighteen hectares on the hills of the territory of Camporeale in the province of Palermo, at about 600 meters of altitude, in the area of Alcamo doc and Monreale doc, of which fourteen are planted with vineyards. Sandy soils on sandstone crust. Vineyards are mainly cultivated with "alberello" system and are almost fifty years old, exposed to the north following the steep slopes of the land. Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
8 days of skin contact
Fermentation in cement vats
Aged in large Slavonian oak casks for two years.
2011
IGP Terre Siciliane "Perricone" 2011
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR : Porta del vento, extends for eighteen hectares on the hills of the territory of Camporeale in the province of Palermo, at about 600 meters of altitude, in the area of Alcamo doc and Monreale doc, of which fourteen are planted with vineyards. Sandy soils on sandstone crust. Vineyards are mainly cultivated with "alberello" system and are almost fifty years old, exposed to the north following the steep slopes of the land. Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
8 days of skin contact
Fermentation in cement vats
Aged in large Slavonian oak casks for two years.
2006
IGP Terre Siciliane "Trebbiano" 2006
VARIETY : Trebbiano
TERROIR :
From Marco's very first vintage when he converted the domain to organic and biodynamic.
Sandy Soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION : 30 day maceration.