Savino

The Nature Reserve of Vendicari between Noto and Pachino, south-eastern Sicily, is one of the most important protected areas for migratory birds on their routes between Europe and Africa. The most coveted target of bird watchers and naturalists who roam through Vendicari are the flamingos that often visit the lagoons of the reserve.

Vittorio Savino has chosen to elect the flamingo as the symbol of the winery he has founded in Vendicari. Savino, a Sicilian who now lives in Rome, a few years ago bought a few lots of land on the shores of Pantano Sichilli, a small lagoon fed by the waters of the Ionian Sea. After meeting with Salvo Foti, he began to restore the ancient vineyards of Nero d’Avola he had found abandoned near the Pantano. In full respect of the philosophy of the Nature Reserve, the Maestranza dei Vigneri is gradually restoring the vineyard, without using synthetic products or any fertilizers other than sheep manure.

The vineyard is worked manually and with the help of Ciccio the mule, who is able to make good use of his experience built on the narrow terraces of Mt. Etna. A return to the wine produced solely with farmers’ methods, such as had always been done in this area before the era of industrialized agriculture.

Accolades

Nero Sichilli 2009