Nuzzella was founded in 2014 when Nicola Oteri and his wife Norma purchased an old olive grove and vineyard planted to native varieties of nerello mascalese and carricante. Thus began the difficult and exciting work of recovering the 4ha of abandoned land.

The vineyard is characterised by the combination of two distinct soils: the “white lands”—sedimentary rocks not involved in lava eruption and the “black lands”—the result of lava flows that have occurred over time. The locals chris- tened this tongue of lava-based soils “terremorte” (dead lands) in reference to the powerful red river.

Nicola and Norma farm organically and utilise the growth of local legumes and grasses to encourage biodiversity and natural pest control.

The wine

Salty, fleshy carricante (90%) and cataratto (10%) from sandy, volcanic soils are macerated for fifteen days then slumbered for nine months in the cool of stainless steel. 

A significantly textural wine, waxy in disposition, firmed by pithy citrus. Best interlaced with grilled seafood.