Funaro is a family owned organic winery in Santa Ninfa in Trapani province on the Italian island of Sicily (‘Sicilia’). The estate was founded in 2003 when the Funaro siblings–Tiziana, Clemente and Giacomo–decided to make wine from vineyards that had been in their family for three generations. Wines are made under the Terre Siciliane IGT.

Estate vineyards: 85 acres of farmland of which 60 acres are vineyards (on two sites–see below) and 15 acres are olives, plus arable land, vegetable plots and fruit orchards. The vineyards are located in the towns of Salemi and Santa Ninfa in the province of Trapani, at between 150 to 450 metres above sea level.

– Vineyards–Salemi: In Trapani province, in the centre of a vast area dedicated to wine production. Local varieties are grown such as Inzolia, Trebbiano, Cataratto, Grillo, Nero d’Avola and Perricone, as well as international ones like Chardonnay, Muller Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat.

– Vineyards–Santa Ninfa: In Agro di Santa Ninfa, Scavi district. Hilly, gently sloping land with a clayey structure on a shallow calcareous matrix characteristic of the area of Santa Ninfa. 450 metres above sea level. Nero d’Avola and Zibbibo. First year of production was 2007. 4,000-4,400 plants per acre. 110 Richter.

Organic certification: 2011 First vintage with full organic certification.

Winery: Two sides of the wine cellar are buried underground. The cellar is kept at a constant temperature and humidity level, via a thermal conditioning system and energy saving external thermal cladding.

Energy use: 50% of the electricity needed to run the wine cellar is produced via an integrated photovoltaic system and a solar thermal collector which heating most of the rooms as well as the domestic water supply. All waste water produced by the wine cellar is purified naturally (in ponds filled with volcanic rock and reeds), and this purified water can then be used for crop irrigation. Low to medium weight glass bottles are used. Information sheets are printed on paper made with pure organic cellulose with a low E.C.F. chlorine content.

Sparkling wines

Metodo Classico Extra Brut Millesimato: 2014 100% Chardonnay. 18 months sur pointes. 13% alc. 6 g/l RS.

White wines

Terre Siciliane IGT Inzolia: 2012 Terre Siciliane Bianco 100% Inzolia. Crisp, fresh (Millésime Bio 2014).

Terre Siciliane IGT Verdelicia Bianco: Chardonnay 60%, Inzolia 40%.

Terre Siciliane IGT Pinzeri Bianco: 100% Grillo

Terre Siciliane IGT Viveur Bianco: 50% Inzolia, 35% Muller-Thurgau, 15% Cataratto.

Gatto Bianco: 60% Inzolia, 40% Zibbibo.

Red wines

Terre Siciliane IGT Rosso, Omnis: 100% Nero d’Avola.

Terre Siciliane IGT Gatto Nero: 60% Syrah, 40% Nero d’Avola.

Terre Siciliane IGT Nero d’Avola: 100% Nero d’Avola. | 2012 A bit over-extracted (Millésime Bio 2014).

Terre Siciliane IGT Syrah: 100% Syrah.

Terre Siciliane IGT Pile della Ciaula Rosso: Nero d’Avola 60%, Syrah 40%.

Sweet white wines

Zibbibo Passito: 100% Zibbibo (Muscat of Alexandria). | 2011 15% alcohol. A bit high tone (Millésime Bio 2014).

Olives: The olive orchards are at 450 metres above sea level, in Valle del Belice in Santa Ninfa which is well suited to the production of extra virgin olive oil.

Contact

Funaro s.r.l.,

Contrada Scavi, S.S. 188 Km 48,700

I-91029 Santa Ninfa (TP), Italy | Website: www.funaro.it