the company vineyards
In the heart of the Erice DOC, the company’s vineyards, planted by carefully evaluating the exposure and composition of the land, extend at an altitude between 250 and 600 meters above sea level, on the slopes of Mount Erice, the westernmost peak of the hills that surround the city of Trapani, not far from the crystalline north-western coast of Sicily.
The production area includes forty-five hectares enclosed along the hills that fall within the territories of Torretta, Trapani (Baglio Nuovo, Cialotta, Canalottelli) and Buseto Palizzolo (Ragoleo and Trentasalme). The cool and breezy climate, the presence of hills and the relative proximity of the sea give the land unique and exceptional characteristics.
In addition, the optimal geological conformation is capable of giving the grapes a perfectly balanced mix of perfumes, freshness and acidity,making it an ideal context for the cultivation of both native (Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Grillo, Catarratto, Carricante, Insolia, Moscato Bianco) and international varieties (Müller Thurgau, Chardonnay , Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot).
The crown jewel of Casa Vinicola Fazio’s ampelographic set is finally the Müller Thurgau, a white grape variety originating from Geisenheim (Germany): a never-before-seen here in Sicily which, in the Erice DOC area, finds the ideal conditions to express itself at its best. A marriage of love celebrated in Sicily which earned Fazio’s Müller Thurgau the “Great Mention” at Vinitaly.
The cultivation systems used are different depending on the variety. For Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot in Torretta it is used a spurred cordon system, an “albarello” system for Catarratto in Buseto Palizzolo and Guyot system for the remaining varieties. The rhythm of nature and the succession of seasonal cycles assesses the harvest period between the first ten days of August for white grapes and the autumn equinox for black grapes.
The yield per hectare clearly depends on the variety and the product. The Erice DOC allows a quantity of 110 quintals / hectare of white and black grapes (except for Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon with 90 quintals / hectare). Finally, the DOC Sicily black grape varieties ensure a maximum of 120 quintals / hectare, and 130 quintals / hectare those with white grapes.
