ABBAZIA SAN GIORGIO
Pantelleria
Sicily
Located on the remote island of Pantelleria, Abbazia San Giorgio is the winery of Battista Belvisi and was founded in 2015. While the estate itself is fairly new, Battista has had a long and illustrious career in winemaking, learning to make the region’s famous passito from his father and grandfather, and also spending a decade under the tutelage of local legend Gabrio Bini. Battista farms 3.5 hectares of vines, which include local grape varieties such as Zibbibo and Catarratto.
He has neither organic nor biodynamic certification but goes well above what would be expected of him if this were the case. Battista hardly intervenes in the vineyard at all, eschewing even organic treatments and allowing wild herbs to flourish between the vines. In the cellar, Battista often keeps his wines on the skins during the entire fermentation. His wines are beautifully powerful, structured and show otherworldly aromatics that evoke this island’s striking beauty.
Lustro
Vintage 2020
Style Orange
Region Pantelleria
Varieties Catarratto
ABV 13.5%
Soils Volcanic
Farming Organic with some biodynamic techniques
Winemaking 100% Catarratto macerated on the skins, generally harvested in the second week of September.
Des-stemmed grapes. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. No sulphur added.
Tasting Note Candied peach and lemon, orange blossom, fresh caramel and ripe apricot. Very fresh with a nice texture on the palate and chamomile notes on the finish.
Canto del Grillo
Vintage 2021
Style Orange
Region Pantelleria
Varieties Grillo
ABV 13.5%
Soils Volcanic
Farming Organic with some biodynamic techniques
Winemaking A 100% Grillo cuvée sourced from 12 year old vines. Grapes were harvested in the first week of September. The fruit is de-stemmed and spontaneously fermented in steel tanks. The grapes are macerated for around 15 days were extraction and colour of final wine is closely monitored. The final wine is then aged for 4 months in stainless steel followed by a time of maturation in bottle. No sulfur is added at any point of the vinification.
Tasting Note
Orange
Vintage 2022
Style Orange
Region Pantelleria
Varieties Zibbibo
ABV 12.5%
Soils Volcanic
Farming Organic with some biodynamic techniques
Winemaking From 60 year old vineyards trained in the traditional Alberello Pantesco style of Pantellaria. Grapes are generally harvested at the beginning of September. The wine is fermented spontaneously with the native yeasts present on the skins. Maceration on the skins for 15 days. No sulphur added.
Tasting Note Fresh mango, candid peach, lychee and aromatic grapey notes. Floral notes reminiscent of wisteria come to mind. A little structure on the palate from the skin contact combined with an amazing freshness.
Isola del Vento
Vintage 2017
Style Skin Contact
Region Pantelleria
Varieties Zibibbo
ABV
Soils Volcanic
Farming Organic with some biodynamic techniques
Winemaking Wine made from bush trained Zibibbo vines. Grapes are hand harvested. Aged for year in small stainless steel tanks and then matured for almost two years in 500L amphoras. No corrections or additions took place and no sulphur was added.
Tasting Note Explosive aromas of dried fruits, figs, apricots and ripe citrus fruit. The palate is fresh with a savoury edge and a lovely bite on the finish. Very gastronomical wine due to the ripe fruit character. Great partner to aged cheeses and shellfish.
Joe Pesk
Vintage 2020
Style White
Region Pantelleria
Varieties Zibbibo
ABV 13.5%
Soils Volcanic
Farming Organic with some biodynamic techniques
Winemaking Made with grapes from old Zibbibo vines over 90 years old. These are trained in the Albarello Pantesco way. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Long maceration of 60 days. Maturation in chestnut barrels and amphora.
Tasting Note A whirlwind of flowers, spices and tropical fruits combined in this very intense complex wine. Refreshing minerality and rich finish.
Bat
Vintage 2020
Style Rosé
Region Pantelleria
Varieties Nerello Mascalese, Alicante
ABV
Soils Volcanic
Farming Organic with some biodynamic techniques
Winemaking The Nerello Mascalese vines average 10 years of age and the Alicante 20 years of age. Grapes are generally hand harvested in the beginning of October. The wine ferments spontaneously with native yeasts. Maceration on the skins lasts for 24 hours, after which the skins are removed and the wine continues to ferment for a further 15 days. The wine is matured in stainless steel silos for 8 months and rested in used tonneaux until the following winter. No corrections or additions and no sulphur added.
Tasting Note Redcurrant, grapefruit and sour cherry notes lifted by wild scrubbed herbs. A wonderful aperitif with lots of texture and bite to it.
Cloé
Vintage 2020
Style Rosé
Region Pantelleria
Varieties Nerello Mascalese
ABV
Soils Volcanic
Farming Organic with some biodynamic techniques
Winemaking Average age of the vines is 10 years old. The grapes are generally hand harvested in the 3rd week of September. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Maceration on the skins depending on the level of colour achieve each year. No additions or corrections and no sulphur added. Maturation partly in stainless steel silos and chestnut barrels for 6 months.
Tasting Note Wild scrubbed herbs, pomegranate and goji berries. Palate is crunchy with some lovely juicy tannins.
Garofalo
Vintage 2015
Style Red
Region Pantelleria
Varieties Nero d’Avola, Alicante
ABV
Soils Volcanic
Farming Organic with some biodynamic techniques
Winemaking Grapes are hand harvested. Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts. Grapes are generally harvested by hand on the third week of September. Maturation in stainless steel for 12 months and 18 months in tonneaux. Maceration on the skins for around 15 days. No additions or corrections as well as no sulphur added.
Tasting Note A complex wine with some development, aromas of olive skin, violets and rosemary come to mind. On the finish a lovely saline edge balancing the savoury character.