Perhaps it is the most ambitious of Ariana's wines.
Grotte Alte is a territory: the limestone ridges on which Vittoria, Arianna's hometown stands. It is also an expression of her beloved Sicily that preserves the taste of the Mediterranean sea and all the air and the Iblei Mountains thermal excursions.
Sourced from old-vine Frappato and Nero d’Avola grown on the red sand and limestone of the Vittoria highlands, the 2020 vintage is defined by power and elegance.
Farmed organically and biodynamically, the vineyards sit at 280 meters above sea level and are tended entirely by hand. Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts, followed by a long, slow maceration for gentle extraction. The wine undergoes extended ageing: approximately 32 months in large Slavonian oak casks, then additional time in bottle before release. No fining or filtration, and minimal sulphur.
Tasting note
Aromatic and layered, with notes of red cherry, blood orange, wild herbs, dried rose and sweet spice. The palate is refined yet expansive, showing silken tannins, bright acidity, and a long, mineral-driven finish shaped by Vittoria’s limestone soils. A wine of purity, finesse and profound regional identity.