Region: Sicily, Italy (Terre Siciliane IGT)
Grapes: 100% Catarratto Extra Lucido
Body: Medium
Notes: Dried orange peel, volcanic lemon pith, white tea, salted almond husk, peach iced tea, and a distinctive, sea-breeze saline snap
Pairing: Fritto misto (fried mixed seafood), fancy tinned octopus in olive oil, Marcona olives and saffron cheese, dynamic charcuterie, or spicy garlic shrimp
FUSO is an authoritative, collaborative natural wine project designed to track down and bottle Italy’s ultimate, terroir-driven daily drinkers. Partnering exclusively with artisan vignerons who champion organic agriculture and low-intervention cellar practices, FUSO delivers characterful, unmanipulated wines built for immediate enjoyment. For the "Cala" lineup ("cala" translates to "gulp" in Sicilian dialect), the project teams up with legendary natural winemaker Dario Serrentino of the Mortellito estate. Sourced from a 5-hectare parcel of organically managed, 20-year-old vines rooted in the clay and red sand soils of Partinico—a raised plateau sitting 400 meters above sea level just west of Palermo—the fruit benefits from intense island sunshine tempered by cool, high-altitude night air and refreshing maritime currents.
The 2025 "Cala" Macerato is a brilliantly accessible, highly scannable skin-contact orange wine engineered to showcase the textured, savory depth of Sicily’s native white varieties. This vintage relies entirely on Catarratto Extra Lucido ("extra shiny Catarratto"), a rare regional clone prized for yielding wines with far greater phenolic texture, color, and depth than the common Catarratto strain. To preserve a vibrant alpine nerve in a notoriously hot Mediterranean climate, Dario harvests the fruit early in August. In the cellar, the hand-selected clusters undergo spontaneous native yeast fermentation in stainless steel tanks, including a precise 50-hour skin maceration to extract golden-amber hues, herbal oils, and light white-tea tannins without introducing heavy bitterness. Following a gentle pressing and a 6-month maturation on its fine lees entirely in neutral tank, the wine is lightly filtered and bottled with minimal sulfur adjustments. The resulting palate delivers a masterfully balanced, thirst-quenching crunch that juxtaposes pithy stone fruits and dried citrus with a long, mouthwatering, and intensely salty mineral drive.
Region: Sicily, Italy (Terre Siciliane IGT)
Grapes: 100% Catarratto Extra Lucido
Body: Medium
Notes: Dried orange peel, volcanic lemon pith, white tea, salted almond husk, peach iced tea, and a distinctive, sea-breeze saline snap
Pairing: Fritto misto (fried mixed seafood), fancy tinned octopus in olive oil, Marcona olives and saffron cheese, dynamic charcuterie, or spicy garlic shrimp
FUSO is an authoritative, collaborative natural wine project designed to track down and bottle Italy’s ultimate, terroir-driven daily drinkers. Partnering exclusively with artisan vignerons who champion organic agriculture and low-intervention cellar practices, FUSO delivers characterful, unmanipulated wines built for immediate enjoyment. For the "Cala" lineup ("cala" translates to "gulp" in Sicilian dialect), the project teams up with legendary natural winemaker Dario Serrentino of the Mortellito estate. Sourced from a 5-hectare parcel of organically managed, 20-year-old vines rooted in the clay and red sand soils of Partinico—a raised plateau sitting 400 meters above sea level just west of Palermo—the fruit benefits from intense island sunshine tempered by cool, high-altitude night air and refreshing maritime currents.
The 2025 "Cala" Macerato is a brilliantly accessible, highly scannable skin-contact orange wine engineered to showcase the textured, savory depth of Sicily’s native white varieties. This vintage relies entirely on Catarratto Extra Lucido ("extra shiny Catarratto"), a rare regional clone prized for yielding wines with far greater phenolic texture, color, and depth than the common Catarratto strain. To preserve a vibrant alpine nerve in a notoriously hot Mediterranean climate, Dario harvests the fruit early in August. In the cellar, the hand-selected clusters undergo spontaneous native yeast fermentation in stainless steel tanks, including a precise 50-hour skin maceration to extract golden-amber hues, herbal oils, and light white-tea tannins without introducing heavy bitterness. Following a gentle pressing and a 6-month maturation on its fine lees entirely in neutral tank, the wine is lightly filtered and bottled with minimal sulfur adjustments. The resulting palate delivers a masterfully balanced, thirst-quenching crunch that juxtaposes pithy stone fruits and dried citrus with a long, mouthwatering, and intensely salty mineral drive.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.