2022 Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Sicily, Italy

ABOUT THIS WINE

Our Cerasuolo di Vittoria is produced from the countryside around Dorilli, between the sea and the Iblean mountains, the area of Sicilian food par excellence. The name of the only Sicilian DOCG derives of ‘cerasa’, cherry in Sicilian dialect. The wine is produced from the indigenous varieties Nero d’Avola and Frappato. A unique wine, recognisable and unforgettable; aromas of cherry, strawberry and pomegranate, fruits of the particular soils and climate. The principal characteristic of the soils in the Cerasuolo di Vittoria area is the sandy texture; the soils consist mostly of loose red sand with a structure of small dimension, moderately deep. A tufa layer lies at about 90 cm, very important for the water holding capacity of the soil and thus for the water balance of the plants. A blend of 60% Nero D'Avola and 40% Frappato. Fermented and aged in temperature controlled stainless steel vats. 

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Picture it: Sicily, 1984. A local family whose farming roots stretch back 17 generations embarks on a new adventure in wine, beginning at their 16th-century farmhouse in the village of Sambuca di Sicilia, not far from the seaside enclave of Menfi. While it was Grandfather Vito who initially sparked the transformation of their modest plot of vines into something much larger, it was his son, Diego Planeta, who would go on to develop a hugely successful collective of skilled grape growers. His vision became a model for developing and advancing Sicilian wine culture. And it was only just the beginning.

As Diego became a force for progress, his daughter Francesca and nephews Alessio and Santi were embarking on their own mission — one that would unequivocally link the Planeta name with Sicily’s finest wines.

Over the next three-plus decades, anchored by their Ulmo and Dispensa estates in Menfi, they traveled west to east — first to Vittoria, then on to Noto, Etna, and finally Capo Milazzo — tracing a thoughtful path around the island and establishing dynamic new properties in each unique territory. From the beginning through present day, the family have always been a seamless unit, with Alessio overseeing the winemaking and viticultural aspects, Francesca spearheading a flourishing enotourism program, and Santi managing their expanding business operations. A strong sense of family is at the core of everything they do.

The Planetas refer to Sicily as a continent unto itself — with good reason. The island may be small, but what it lacks in square miles it more than makes up for with its staggering diversity of soils, elevations, and climatic influences. It is through the lenses of their six boutique wineries, across five regions, that the family creates the ultimate expressions of Sicilian wine. We believe they are only just scratching the surface of the island’s potential.

Today, Planeta is still a beacon of innovation, who’ve pioneered the matching of local soil types with their ideal native and international grapes. It is an accomplishment and an ethos that altered the course of Sicilian wine — to each territory, its own winery. Combined with their fearless, open-minded approach to winemaking, they skillfully strike “equilibrio” (balance) with every wine of place they craft. Thus positioning themselves, and Sicilian wine as a whole, squarely on the global stage of fine wine.