Profile of Tasca d’ Almerita Winery
Profile of Sicily Wine Region
Sicily Wine Region Maps
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.
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Wines
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| Almerita Brut Contea di Sclafani DOC |
"Methode Champenoise" sparkling wine, 100% Chardonnay, aged in bottle before release, 13.5% alc |
| Cabernet Sauvignon Contea di Sclafani DOC |
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in Allier new oak and 1 year old oak for 18 months + min 1 year in bottle, 14 % alc. |
| Rosso del Conte Contea di Sclafani DOC |
Nero d´Avola blend (varying red varietals), signature Tasca D´Almerita wine. Aged for 18 months in French barrique+ min 6 months in bottle, 14.5% alc. |
| Regaleali Nero d'Avola IGT Sicilia |
100% Nero d'Avola, aged for 6-8 months in Slovenian oak+ 2 months in bottle, 13% alc. |
| La Segreta Rosso IGT Sicilia |
50% Nero d´Avola, 25% Merlot, 20% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Franc, fermented in stainless steel, 13.5% alc |
| Regaleali Bianco IGT Sicilia |
Blend of Inzolia, Cataratto and Grecanico, aged for 3 months in stainless steel tank+ 1 month in bottle, 12% alc. |
| Nozze d'Oro Contea di Sclafani DOC |
40% Inzolia, 60% Varietà Tasca (blend with equal parts of indigenous Inzolia and Sauvignon Tasca, a clone of Sauvignon Blanc). Aged for 5 months on its lees + min 3 more months in bottle, 12.5% alc. |
| Leone d'Almerita IGT Sicilia |
85% Catarratto and 15% Chardonnay. Aged in French oak + additional time in bottle, combined 6 months, no Malolactic, 12.5% alc. |
| Chardonnay Contea di Sclafani DOC |
100% Chardonnay, fermented in new and second use Allier and Tronçais barriques for seven months + min six months in bottle, 14 % alc. |
| Cygnus IGT Sicilia |
75% Nero d'Avola and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, annual production of only 2500 bottles, aged for 10 months in French oak + 10 months in bottle, 13.5% alc. |
| Diamante Passito IGT Sicilia |
60% Moscato and 40% Traminer Aromatico, this sweetie is fermented in stainless steel and aged in the tank for 6 months, 11 % alc. |
| Lamùri Nero d'Avola IGT Sicilia |
Lamùri means “love” in Sicilian dialect. 100% Nero d’Avola, aged for 12 months in French oak + 3 months in bottle, 13.5% alc. |
| Le Rosé di Regaleali IGT Sicilia |
100% Nerello Mascalese, 12.5 % alc |
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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
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More Information:
If you would like Cellar Tours to customize a Wine Tour in Italy or Luxury Day Excursion in Italy, for individuals or groups, contact us on: info@cellartours.com
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