Giuseppe Cipolla

On the south coast of central Sicily, around 25 kilometres from Agrigento, Giuseppe Cipolla considers himself a guardian of history. His core philosophy revolves around respecting the unique make-up of the land and ancient vine-training techniques, while driving his wines forward into a new dimension. The vineyards are planted on a unique combination of chalk and sulphur, in an area once prized for mining. Now demand has moved elsewhere, the soil remains an incredible source of minerals, which provide the tension needed to dominate the sun-soaked opulence typical of the area. In Giuseppe’s own words, the soil is not a base; it is the voice of the wine.

Giuseppe practices organic farming, but his work goes beyond that; an ethos where each component of the landscape – grass, insects, trees – are an essential part of the wine. He believes in minimal intervention, allowing nothing to stand in the way of the true expression of grape and soil. There are no synthetic chemicals, only indigenous yeasts and no filtration in his bottlings. As such, the wines are truly alive, evolving in flavour and nuance from the moment the cork is removed. He farms two vineyards – Passofonduto, which he planted himself ten years ago, and a purchased plot of twenty-year-old vines, Torre di Salto. The vines are trained in either Tendone or Alberello systems.

Giuseppe’s love of the Jura is evident in his wines, particularly the salty, oxidative Solfare, but also in the brightness he brings to his red bottlings. These are vibrant, unique, forward-thinking wines from a producer dedicated to showcasing the true soul of his land.