Sicilian wine production is enriched with a new interesting chapter thanks to the Assuli company which is committed to the study and recovery of wines deriving from forgotten native varietieswith unique features: the relic vines, the flagship of Sicilian viticultural biodiversity. And it is precisely thanks to these vines that new and stimulating flavors await the Sicilian wine world.
Assuli, what in dialect it means "In the Sun", owned by the Caruso family, located in the westernmost part of Sicily, produces wines according to the dictates of organic farming, from the plant to the bottling, combining innovation and tradition.
Organic cultivation demonstrates the choice to pursue a sustainable development model, based on the principles of safeguarding and enhancing resources, in full respect of the environment, which combines innovation and tradition, producing organic wines faithful to the territory.
The Assuli vineyards, located between Mazara del Vallo and Trapani at an altitude between 100 and 250 meters above the sea, from which you can enjoy a unique panorama of the countryside, up to the Egadi islands, extend over a property of about 130 hectares, with particular attention to native vines, such as Nero d'Avola, Insolia, Perricone and others. These are also accompanied by wines produced from international grapes, such as Syrah, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet.
The wines produced by the company are called Carinda "Insolia", Furioso "Perricone", Fiordiligi "Grillo", Ruggiero "Syrah", whose originality is also expressed in the choice of names, each coming from a character in Orlando Furioso and drawing inspiration from the themes treated in it: the love between Donna Angelica and Orlando, subjugated by passion and strength, the war with Ruggiero who fights valiantly and, finally, the individualism of Dardinello who acts by instinct.
Among all, it stands out Lorlando "Nero d'Avola", an extremely elegant and balanced wine with a compact ruby red color with purple reflections in which soft and naturally balanced tannins are perceived, with intense aromas of ripe red fruits, with a well-defined sapidity and persistence, never banal with a good balance in the mouth that offers a sensory experience that catapults you with sincere naturalness into the meaning of the land in which it is grown. It goes well with medium-aged cheeses and white meats such as roasts. The refinement takes place in stainless steel tanks for about 4 months and then left to rest in the bottle for another 4 months. The harvest varies according to the vintage and the ripeness of the grapes, generally starting in mid-September.
"Nero d'Avola is the star of our reds - says Roberto Caruso - embodies our passion for this land and we think we have managed to make known an aspect of great balance that overcomes the prejudice it often suffers in terms of only powerful and tannic wine , fruit of an oenology that does not belong to Assuli”.
The deep knowledge of the Sicilian land, combined with the professionalism of the cellar, allows the production of wines that enhance its originality and territorial identity, thanks to the power of the sun and the proximity of the sea. From delicate, fresh or savory whites that recall the sea, to reds with a strong and decisive character, influenced by the heat and the wind. The slower maturation, with lower temperatures, allows the maximum exaltation of aromas, freshness and aging.
The Caruso family has always maintained a strong link with the countryside, managing to produce Sicilian wines able to safeguard the characteristic aromatic heritage of the island. The native vines develop an intimate relationship with the territory, managing to feed on its particularities. Here tradition is combined with modern winemaking techniques that enhance the expressive power, obtaining a superior quality, while remaining faithful to the methods of excellence in winemaking.
To underline even more the link with the territory is the enological research project, aimed at rediscovering ancient vines, with almost extinct native varieties, the so-called relic grape varieties. The project promoted by Assuli, in collaboration with the Istituto Vite Vino di Marsala, counts 14 varieties of these precious vines, planted in an experimental vineyard of 0,3 hectares in Carcietella in the municipality of Mazara del Vallo, also subjected to the organic specification. Whose goal is to tell an ancient story, thousands of years old: that of Sicilian wine.
Among the whites we find: Alzano, Cutrera, Dunnuni, Nave, Oriddu, Recuno and Reliquia white. Instead, among the reds: Anonima, Insolia black, Vitrarolo, Bracau, Catanese black, Lucignola, Rucignola. And it is thanks to these vines that the vast Sicilian wine world is further enriched, offering a product of absolute authenticity and unmistakable character. However these vines have not yet been vinified yet but are the subject of experiments to evaluate their individual parameters.
If on the one hand these vines are considered "special", or rather, real relics, why has no one grown them anymore? Because these varieties are not very productive and until the mid-90s, quantity was preferred over quality. Today, however, things are different, there is a return to niche products and the search for a flavor linked to the identity of the territory. But not only that, these plants contain genes that could give other strains resistance to disease and pests. For example, the cultivation of Vitrarolo was limited to a few strains, present in the Nebrodi area, characterized by a harsh climate, whose name comes from the branches which in winter take on a glassy appearance and break easily.
The vineyards are divided into four parcels for a total of 110 hectares, of which 100 are vineyards. The winery is located in Carcitella, surrounded by 40 hectares between 100 and 250 meters above sea level, with a mild and breezy Mediterranean climate, two artificial lakes inside the fund ensure the water supply for the cultures. The cultivated vines are: Nero d'Avola, Perricone/Pignatello, Insolia, Grillo, Moscato d'Alessandria (Zibibbo). In Besi (Castelvetrano) there are another 17 hectares, the soil is of medium texture with deep structure. Another 56 hectares are located in Fontanabianca (Salemi), with many flat surfaces and some slightly steep. In this appreciation we cultivate: Syrah, Grillo, Cataratto. Finally, the last appreciation of 18 hectares is located in Bosco Scorce, 600 meters above the sea. The crops are Nero d'Avola, Perricone and Grillo.
Before dedicating himself entirely to wine, the Assuli company has its roots in the building sector, in the extraction of marble and only in the 2000s does it begin to expand its campaigns. And it is precisely in honor of the family history that the cellar is made of Pearly Sicilian marble: all the cladding is in tufa stone on the outside, the internal ones in marble, enriched with ornamental olive trees, flower beds and a pleasant decorative well in marble equipped with a tank for collecting rainwater.
