Caravaglio
Occhio di Terra Malvasia Salina 2023
| Denomination | IGT Salina |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.5% by volume |
| Area | Sicily (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Malvasia di Lipari |
| Aging | Aged on its fine lees for about six months |
- Grape variety and origin: 100% Malvasia di Lipari, Salina IGT, Aeolian archipelago in Sicily
- Vinification: indigenous yeasts, 10-day skin maceration and malolactic fermentation
- Aromas: notes of apricot, yellow peach, mango, sage, white flowers and citrus fruits
- Taste: smooth sip with lively acidity and well-balanced marine savouriness
- Pairings: ideal at 10-12 °C with fish, shellfish, delicate first courses and cheeses
Description
What kind of wine it is
Occhio di Terra Malvasia Salina is an aromatic white wine that embodies the essence of island viticulture. Produced by Caravaglio, it showcases the Malvasia di Lipari grape variety through an elegant and well-defined profile. On the nose, it reveals clear notes of yellow peach, apricot and mango, followed by hints of sage, white flowers and fresh citrus accents. On the palate, it offers a smooth sip, perfectly balanced by a savoury and acidic streak that ensures harmony and a pleasant fluidity from the very first taste.
Where it comes from
This white wine originates from Salina, in the heart of the Aeolian Islands, Sicily. It is produced by Caravaglio, a company dedicated to organic farming that aims to enhance the most authentic expression of the volcanic territory. The influence of the sea translates into a distinct aromatic profile, giving the glass a profound Mediterranean character and a solid balance between softness and gustatory tension. Thanks to its strong territorial identity, it pairs perfectly with fish dishes, shellfish, light first courses and fresh cheeses.
How it is produced
The Malvasia di Lipari grapes are harvested at the beginning of September and vinified in temperature-controlled tanks. Fermentation is initiated by indigenous yeasts and involves a maceration on the skins for about ten days, which is essential for extracting structure and aromatic complexity. This is followed by malolactic fermentation and ageing on fine lees for around six months. This period of rest enriches the wine's flavour profile, which is finally subjected to a light filtration to preserve the purity and integrity of the grape variety.
History and Curiosities
Produced on the island of Salina, in the Aeolian Islands, this excellent organic Salina IGT embodies the dedication of the Caravaglio winery. Under the expert guidance of oenologist Antonino, the company (founded in 1989) enhances the Sicilian territory by showcasing the Malvasia di Lipari in its purest form. Thanks to careful experimentation with maceration, the wine acquires an authentic character, ensuring exceptional expressiveness and remarkable longevity. The outstanding quality of the 2023 vintage is celebrated by the prestigious Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso.
Tasting notes
Perlage
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
10 - 12 °C
Longevity:
05 - 10 years
- Start up year: 1992
- Oenologist: Antonino Caravaglio
- Bottles produced: 50.000
- Hectares: 12
Tourism had converted the island's economy, which had gradually almost lost its predominant agricultural identity. Everything happened very quickly and this sudden change also changed the anthropological footprint and relations changed accordingly. But Caravaglio was convinced: he wanted to develop his agricultural project and he wanted to do so by aiming for maximum qualitative development. He was thinking of the two traditional crops: wine and capers. The company was founded in 1989.
Aiming for quality immediately meant making an important choice: to produce according to the dictates of organic farming. At the beginning it was two hectares, his father's land. Gradually, other plots of land were added, either rented or purchased in instalments, until the current size of around 20 hectares was reached, divided into around 30 different plots. In 1994 he met Elisa Giuffrè, a teacher, also from Salina, and they fell in love.
They married in 1998, the year before founding the company. It goes without saying that husband and wife have always followed the project together. In 2002 Alda was born. Children are also projects for life.
Today the directly managed vineyards are spread over an area of about 20 hectares. Nino Caravaglio is the creator and manager of the company. Thanks to his studies, he closely and rigorously follows the field, but it is he himself who also takes care of the oenological aspects, with the necessary analytical support he assesses from time to time. The commercial side is also followed to a great extent on his own. The company therefore manages the entire chain from production to sales. Today, Nino Caravaglio's outlook is optimistic:
"We are slowly recovering the reality of the land, of wine, of capers, of crops. This recovery is not an operation aimed at the past, but looks ahead to give uniformity to the island, an identity that fits in perfectly with the prospect of tourism, and with that of a reality that grows and compares with an open mind".
This is the spirit in which the family business, which Nino Caravaglio runs with total dedication and conviction, operates and plans today. He has achieved many results and made many intuitions that have opened up innovative paths, without ever betraying history and tradition. The decision to vinify Malvasia grapes as a dry white wine, a wine to drink throughout a meal, but with high quality characteristics, was very important.
This is how the first dry Malvasia of the Aeolian Islands was born, that of Nino Caravaglio, in 2010. The road was open. Caravaglio continued his research and, next to that Malvasia, a second one was born in 2013.
Climbing the ladder of excellence, this new Malvasia was a cru. He called it Infatata: it was and is produced exclusively with grapes from the Tricoli vineyard. Since 2015 again a new wine, made with maceration, partly in amphora and partly in steel, which I chose to make this year.
It is a convinced experimentation for me, which allows me to put dry Malvasia to the test in terms of longevity. We have called it Occhio di terra. That is precise and precious, an ancient expression used by my grandmother and which I remember with affection.
Territorial wines, for Nino Caravaglio, means wines that express the extraordinary specificity of the territories of the archipelago. This is why he has chosen and worked hard to produce wines on the other islands as well. Nero du Munti (black Corinth) is produced on Lipari. In Stromboli we have plans for the future. Read more
| Name | Caravaglio Occhio di Terra Malvasia Salina 2023 |
|---|---|
| Type | White still aromatic |
| Denomination | Salina IGT |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 100% Malvasia di Lipari |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Vendor | Caravaglio |
| Story | History and Curiosities Produced on the island of Salina, in the Aeolian Islands, this excellent organic Salina IGT embodies the dedication of the Caravaglio winery. Under the expert guidance of oenologist Antonino, the company (founded in 1989) enhances the Sicilian territory by showcasing the Malvasia di Lipari in its purest form. Thanks to careful experimentation with maceration, the wine acquires an authentic character, ensuring exceptional expressiveness and remarkable longevity. The outstanding quality of the 2023 vintage is celebrated by the prestigious Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso. |
| Origin | Salina Island, Aeolian Islands, Sicily, Italy |
| Harvest | First week of September |
| Fermentation | Approximately 10 days |
| Production technique | Maceration on the skins in temperature-controlled tanks; fermentation with indigenous yeasts; malolactic fermentation; ageing on fine lees |
| Wine making | The grapes are vinified in the presence of their skins in temperature-controlled tanks; the must-wine remains in contact with the skins for about 10 days. After alcoholic fermentation, malolactic fermentation follows. |
| Aging | Aged on its fine lees for about six months |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |