The Morgante family owns 200 hectares of vineyards, olive and almond groves that sweep along a series of Sicilian hills about 25 kilometres from the famous ancient Valley of the Temples of Agrigento – a UNESCO world heritage site. The family has been growing Nero d’Avola for five generations, but it was only in 1994 that Antonio Morgante, encouraged by sons Carmelo and Giovanni, decided to vinify their own grapes for the first time. The region is ideal for viticulture and the vineyards, planted at 450-550 metres above sea level, bask in the Mediterranean sun during the day and are cooled by breezes at night. The family produces two wines, both 100% Nero d’Avola. The ‘standard’ Nero d’Avola is anything but and has, in a short time, become a benchmark for its price/quality ratio. Spending just three months in mostly old barrique, this is all fruit – full bodied with ripe blackcurrant, cassis and chocolate, velvety tannins and good length.
