Azienda Agricola Tornatore, winemakers in the blood since 1865
In 1910 Giuseppe, grandfather of the current owner, built a house with an adjoining millstone in the Piano Fiera district with adjacent 2 ha of vineyards to which another 2ha on the north side of Etna are added in the Piano Felci district at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level. A family with deep roots in the territory of origin, which in subsequent generations has never neglected attachment and respect for it and for traditions.
The company falls on the northern slope of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. The soils are of volcanic origin and derive from the disintegration of the lava masses, ashes and lapilli.
Generally they are soils formed on the spot (native) or transported by rainwater, which in certain flat areas on the slopes of the volcano, have originated vast sandy, blackish, deep and very fertile extensions. The climate of the northern side of Etna is characterized by mild temperatures, affected by the influence of the mountainous reliefs to the north (Nebrodi mountains).
The result is a late environment as a result of the exposure and the prevailing altimetry which favor strong thermal excursions.
The combination of soil, climate and the wisdom of the winemakers have made the northern slope of Etna an ideal area for the production of wines of the highest quality but above all special and unique.
In 1910 Giuseppe, grandfather of the current owner, built a house with an adjoining millstone in the Piano Fiera district with adjacent 2 ha of vineyards to which another 2ha on the north side of Etna are added in the Piano Felci district at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level. A family with deep roots in the territory of origin, which in subsequent generations has never neglected attachment and respect for it and for traditions.
The company falls on the northern slope of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. The soils are of volcanic origin and derive from the disintegration of the lava masses, ashes and lapilli.
Generally they are soils formed on the spot (native) or transported by rainwater, which in certain flat areas on the slopes of the volcano, have originated vast sandy, blackish, deep and very fertile extensions. The climate of the northern side of Etna is characterized by mild temperatures, affected by the influence of the mountainous reliefs to the north (Nebrodi mountains).
The result is a late environment as a result of the exposure and the prevailing altimetry which favor strong thermal excursions.
The combination of soil, climate and the wisdom of the winemakers have made the northern slope of Etna an ideal area for the production of wines of the highest quality but above all special and unique.
The agricultural activity of the Company is based on the ownership and direct control of a joint stock company that owns 60 ha of land located in the Castiglione di Sicilia area and another 40 ha owned directly. The land is cultivated for about 46 hectares of vineyards, 8 hectares of olive groves and 5 hectares of hazelnut groves, the rest is being converted; for this reason, today the Tornatore company owns the largest vineyard within the Doc Etna production area.
By extension, the vineyards of the Tornatore Company today constitute the largest Etna DOC vineyard in the production area. There are several districts affected by the company's vineyards: among these the prestigious districts Crasà, Pietrarizzo, Malpasso, Pietramarina, Torre Guarino, Carranco and Trimarchisa, all in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia. The altitude varies from 550 to 700 m above sea level and the age varies from 5 to 45 years for the reds and 5 years for the whites.
The company's vineyards have been recently renovated in order to further improve the quality standards and keep the link with the territory and winemaking traditions as much as possible (high planting density, strictly indigenous variety choice). However, where possible, particular attention has been given to the mechanization of our vineyards.
A high number of vines per hectare was maintained (about 6,000) and the single cordon training system with 3/4 spurs was chosen. The systems are made almost entirely in espalier with a spacing of 2.20 × 0.80. The vines present are the Sicilian indigenous ones provided for by the production disciplinary of DOC Etna wines.
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