Region: Sicily, Italy (Terre Siciliane IGT)
Grapes: Blend of Catarratto and Carricante
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Meyer lemon pulp, pink grapefruit zest, wild orange peel, wild white flowers, with an electric, sea-salted minerality and a lightly textured, grippy finish
Pairing: Raw seafood crudo, grilled sardines, citrus-marinated fennel salad, continuous charcuterie boards, or sun-drenched coastal patios
The Producer
Alessandro Viola is a deeply authoritative, universally revered master of the Sicilian natural wine landscape based out of Alcamo, just west of Palermo. Armed with degrees in viticulture and enology, Alessandro explicitly rejected the chemical-heavy, highly industrialized commercial formulas taught in traditional schools. Instead, he chose to craft completely unmanipulated wines from his tiny family plots. He manages his vineyards under strict organic farming protocols, leaning into rich biodiversity and allowing the local Mediterranean climate to shape the grapes naturally. In his underground cellar, Alessandro’s low-intervention philosophy operates on a zero-compromise framework: utilizing spontaneous wild yeast fermentations, aging strictly in neutral fiberglass or used local woods, and bypassing fining, filtration, or the addition of any synthetic sulfites.
The Wine
The 2024 "Carricat" is a brilliantly playful, hyper-energetic skin-fermented white wine designed to capture the pure, breezy essence of the Sicilian coast. The cuvée is an original, site-driven blend combining heavy-textured, clay-grown Catarratto with racy, high-altitude calcareous Carricante. Rather than executing a standard direct-press, Alessandro allows the co-fermenting grapes to sit on their skins for a brief but intentional 48 hours. This short maceration coaxes out a pale amber-straw glow and a delicate layer of fine-grained, white-tea tannins without overpowering the wine's vibrant freshness. Following a spontaneous native fermentation, the juice rests for roughly 6 months on its fine lees in neutral fiberglass tanks before being bottled entirely unfined, unfiltered, and with no added SO2. The resulting 2024 vintage acts as a masterclass in tension; it beautifully pairs an explosive nose of citrus rind and honeyed stone fruit with a piercing, mouthwatering alpine acidity and a deeply savory, ocean-water salinity.
Region: Sicily, Italy (Terre Siciliane IGT)
Grapes: Blend of Catarratto and Carricante
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Meyer lemon pulp, pink grapefruit zest, wild orange peel, wild white flowers, with an electric, sea-salted minerality and a lightly textured, grippy finish
Pairing: Raw seafood crudo, grilled sardines, citrus-marinated fennel salad, continuous charcuterie boards, or sun-drenched coastal patios
The Producer
Alessandro Viola is a deeply authoritative, universally revered master of the Sicilian natural wine landscape based out of Alcamo, just west of Palermo. Armed with degrees in viticulture and enology, Alessandro explicitly rejected the chemical-heavy, highly industrialized commercial formulas taught in traditional schools. Instead, he chose to craft completely unmanipulated wines from his tiny family plots. He manages his vineyards under strict organic farming protocols, leaning into rich biodiversity and allowing the local Mediterranean climate to shape the grapes naturally. In his underground cellar, Alessandro’s low-intervention philosophy operates on a zero-compromise framework: utilizing spontaneous wild yeast fermentations, aging strictly in neutral fiberglass or used local woods, and bypassing fining, filtration, or the addition of any synthetic sulfites.
The Wine
The 2024 "Carricat" is a brilliantly playful, hyper-energetic skin-fermented white wine designed to capture the pure, breezy essence of the Sicilian coast. The cuvée is an original, site-driven blend combining heavy-textured, clay-grown Catarratto with racy, high-altitude calcareous Carricante. Rather than executing a standard direct-press, Alessandro allows the co-fermenting grapes to sit on their skins for a brief but intentional 48 hours. This short maceration coaxes out a pale amber-straw glow and a delicate layer of fine-grained, white-tea tannins without overpowering the wine's vibrant freshness. Following a spontaneous native fermentation, the juice rests for roughly 6 months on its fine lees in neutral fiberglass tanks before being bottled entirely unfined, unfiltered, and with no added SO2. The resulting 2024 vintage acts as a masterclass in tension; it beautifully pairs an explosive nose of citrus rind and honeyed stone fruit with a piercing, mouthwatering alpine acidity and a deeply savory, ocean-water salinity.
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.