Profile Tasca d’ Almerita Winery, Sicily, Italy

Profile of Tasca d’ Almerita Winery

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Tasca d’ Almerita is a fine wine producing estate in Sicily with an aristocratic background. It was founded in 1830 and has been the point of reference for ultra high quality wine for over 100 years. While Sicily gained an unfortunate reputation in the 1950´s - 80´s for making bulk wine mostly used for blending, few wineries took the risky position of making fine wine. Tasca d’ Almerita, however, was one of the fabulous and few exceptions. These days, Sicily is making some of the most exciting wines in Italy and Tasca d’ Almerita has plenty of competition, but they are not resting on their laurels. This winery regularly gets top marks in the wine press and now has faithful followers all over the world; they export to over sixty countries!

About an hour south of Cefalù and a bit farther from Palermo, the Tasca d’ Almerita estate is set in pristine countryside. The winery is located on the Regaleali estate close to Vallelunga Pratameno and is one of the most beautiful in Sicily. While much of central Sicily is dry and arid, the area around this wine estate is lush and verdant, with scenic rolling hills. Both indigenous and international grape varietals are planted from the ubiquitous Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon to flagship Sicilian varietals like Nero d´Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Catarratto and Inzolia. Tasca´s wines are often blends of both local and foreign varietals. Apart from vast stretches of over 1000 hectares of vineyards (beautiful at harvest time!), the estate is also a working farm and they cultivate all manner of vegetables, herbs, and fruits. A full time cheesemaker is also on site.

The company is owned by Count Lucio Tasca (descendent of the original owners) and run by himself and his sons Alberto and Giuseppe. Tuscan winemaker and consultant Carlo Ferrini is at the helm at Tasca d’ Almerita and is an extremely famous personality in the wine world. He is a flying winemaker and wine consultant to a flurry of cult estates in Italy including fellow Sicilian winery Donnafugata, the beautiful Tenuta San Leonardo near Trento, Casanova di Neri (named best wine in the world by Wine Spectator) and Castello Romitorio in Montalcino, Poliziano´s Montepulciano estate, and Castello del Terriccio in the Maremma. Ferrini has been named winemaker of the year various times, most recently this year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. He is supported at Tasca d’ Almerita by a very talented including Giuseppe Tasca and Laura Orsi, and they can be credited for making fabulous wines like the hallmark Rosso del Conte and Nozze d´ Oro wines.

For VIP groups we can organize a special visit to this wine estate, combined with a delicious lunch featuring local specialties such as Panelle (garbanzo based treat), gorgeous Caponata (made with all their own veg), Tasca´s own cheeses and olives, various pasta dishes and to top off the feast, their very own Cannoli which had become mythical in Sicily. Romantics can even stay overnight in their guestrooms, and wake up in wine country. There is also a cooking school onsite run by the count´s sister, Marchesa Anna Tasca Lanza who is a famous published chef. Apart from the Regaleali estate, the family also has a winemaking venture in the stunning Aeolian Island of Salina, where they make their Capofaro Malvasia and where they have a luxurious boutique hotel and cooking school.

We can tailor design luxury wine tours in mainland Sicily and its islands, contact us for more info at: info@cellartours.com

Address:

Tenuta di Regaleali
90020 Sclafani Bagni PA, Sicily, Italy

Tel: +39 0916459711
Fax: +39 091426703
Email: info@tascadalmerita.it
Web: www.tascadalmerita.it

Winery Details

Appellations:Sicilia I.G.T, Contea di Sclafani DOC
Hectares under vine: Founded:1830
Owner:Count Lucio Tasca
Winemaker:Giuseppe Tasca and Laura Orsi
Grape Varietals:- Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Moscato, Malvasia, Traminer Aromatico, Inzolia, Cataratto, Chardonnay and Grecanico

More Information on Luxury Wine Vacations in Sicily:

If you would like Cellar Tours to customize a Wine Tour or Luxury Day Excursion in Italy, for individuals or groups, contact us on: info@cellartours.com