Nicolò Grippaldi
The Estate
Nicolò Grippaldi is a Biodynamic Wine Grower in Gagliano Castelferrato (Enna). He studied philosophy and letters in Florence but he's originally from a small inland village in the province of Enna, Sicily, called Gagliano Castelferrato, 651 meters above sea level. When he lived in Florence he entered the world of wine thanks to one of his dearest friends, the owners of Castello dei Rampolla in Panzano in Chianti. He's now followed by an important researcher who developed the modern viticulture in the vineyard and in the cellar. In all the cities of the province of Enna there are no more vineyards because after phylloxera were completely eradicated and never replanted because even in this area there is subsistence agriculture with a still very backward mentality.
On April 3, 2015 he planted 2.63 hectares of vineyards in the land where his great-grandfather 100 years ago there was a small vineyard. He planted 1.33 hectares of Nerello Mascalese and 1.30 hectares of Nero d'Avola with a total of 11 thousand plants.
He's a pioneer of his territory and he produces a wine that represents 100% this terroir, without any use of chemicals in the vineyard and in the cellar. He believes in this land and he feels that it has an enormous potential to produce a grape and a unique wine. The first harvest was in 2017 and the first wine has been released in 2019.
The Wine
Nerello Mascalese has origins that are lost in the mists of time and, abandoned, it then regained vigor of planting in the province of Enna, absorbing all the potential of the soil, the aromas and minerality of character. In the end, Nero d'Avola and Nerello Mascalese are the most popular red grape varieties on the island, already rich in quantity and quality of great wines with enormous potential.
The care of the land, the care in the cellar derived from mandatory choices in the maceration in the vats and the refinement in the cement and in the bottle was decisive for wines that only in two years, already show structure, color, alcoholic strength that they launch into the market with small numbers of bottles, and in the world of national wine awards, positions of all respect.
The color of the nerello, slightly dark ruby with brick reflections, the fruits very evident, but never invasive. The spiciness especially of elegant pepper, the alcoholic rib of 14 degrees make it essential, not at all intrusive and suitable for many combinations with cheeses, spicy meats, demanding soups, goat and pecorino cheeses.