2015 Lantieri Malvasia delle Lipari Secco

Region: Isola di Vulcano < Sicily < Italy
Grapes: Malvasia delle Lipari
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Biodynamic farming; dry-farmed, high-altitude vineyards on black, sandy volcanic soils; fermented and aged in stainless for 4 months with the fine lees; 250 cases, each bottle hand numbered; minimal SO2 at bottling; 12.5% ABV
Winemaker: Paola Lantieri

Vulcano is a volcanic island in the Aeolian archipelago a few hours off the coast of mainland Sicily.  There is some wine production on neighboring islands of Lipari and Salina, but nobody is making wine on tiny, steep Vulcano (it’s just 21 square km).  Except Paola Lantieri, after 30 years of visiting the island with her family from Palermo, decided to plant 12 hectares. Paola, a physician, was convinced that the virgin volcanic black soils, which had never seen a chemical, and the incredible salinity of the breezes would be a magic combination for grapes. From the start, she followed biodynamic principles, used only herbal preparations in the vineyards, which are dry-farmed by default – there is no way to irrigate these steep, treacherous terraces. Malvasia delle Lipari is an ancient grape variety that is typically dried and made into a sweet wine. But here Paola presses the fresh grapes, lets the juice sit on the skin for 18 hours, ferments in stainless tank, then lets it rest on the lees for 4 months. The result is this fresh, bright and super aromatic yet dry white, salty, with white flowers, chamomile and racy minerality. Such a beautiful wine for aperitivo, fried zucchini blossoms or anything from the sea.