Brought to Sicily by the Greeks and flourished starting from 800 BC (the major Greek colonization of Sicily), wine production in Sicily has been around far longer than the more well-known world producers of wine like France, Australia and even the rest of Italy. FROM VINECULTURE TO WINE CULTURE

A history of vine-growing in Milazzo has recently been published. «STORIA DI MILAZZO VITIVINICOLA», by Massimo Tricamo. This work aims at bringing out the impressive economic past of Milazzo as a centre of excellence in national vineculture, that recently tries to rediscover the ancient inclination by means of the start-up of « MAMERTINO Doc».

In our area there are two very important D.O.C. wine productions: Malvasia in the Aeolian Islands and Mamertino in Milazzo surroundings. Mamertino of Milazzo Doc is one of the vintage wines produced by CASA VINICOLA GRASSO, founded in 1887, it has been handing on from father to son since four generations, with quality as main goal.

WINE a fascinating world to interpret and taste

Historical origins of the vine and wine, entry and spread in the Mediterranean basin

The production of wine… from vine to glass: a) the growing of the vine: growing, techniques and diseases b) the varieties and clones, the selection of biological material c) the wine-making: techniques, materials and equipment d) the ageing of wines e) the bottling and bottles storage f) the effervescing

Wine ecosystem : one or more vine varieties grafted on rootstock climate ground human factors

MORPHOLOGY: Mountain 8% Hill 59% Plain 33%

Annual life cycle of the vine -LIFE CYCLE - unproductive phase 1/3 years - growing productivity 4/5 years - constant productivity 6/25y ears - old age 30/40 years ANNUAL CYCLE VEGETATIVE SUBCYCLE - germination March / April - growth of shoots in April / August - maturing August / October - rest in December SUBCYCLE PRODUCTION - appearance bunches April / May - flowering in June - fruit late June - growing grapes mid July / August -turned dark colourin August - ripening grapes in September / October - grape harvest

FORMS OF GROWING Sapling 35% Espalier 45% Marquee 12% Pergola 3% Other 5%

DISEASES OF THE VINE Parasitic (Viruses, mushrooms and parasites ) Not parasitic ( Frost and hail)

Vinification: techniques, materials and equipment

GRAPES VINEGAR WINE balance unstable Balance stable GRAPES-WINE-VINEGAR BALANCE

Potential of the grapes The potential of grapes depends on: - potential alcohol; - total acidity; - included in tannins; - aromatic framework; - resistance to ageing

1)to determine the harvest date and the sequence of the collection in the different plots. 2) to know the composition of the must in order to establish the technique suitable for vinification, then make, if necessary, the necessary corrections (acidification, deacidification etc.) depending on the type of wine to be obtained: slightly acid light and fresh very colorful inkish Knowing the degree of ripeness of the grapes is important for two main reasons:

Must is a sugary solution and acid complex, and generally consists of: WATER: 65-80% HEXOSES SUGAR: 15-30% ORGANIC ACIDS: % MUST

Factors affecting the quality of wine Permanent vine variety climate soil and its geological aspects Natural Changeable vintage Human Enologic vinecolture techniques growing system enrichment irrigation

ENOLOGIC FACTORS 10% wine production treatment of winery hygiene, environment, containers suitable equipment

Modern fermentation tanks

Barrels Barriques

Sparkling wine

FERMENTATION sugar CO 2 alcohol yeasts starting products products of arrival grape sugar wine sugar alcohol carbon dioxide 16 grams of sugar 04 grams of sugar 1 degree of alcohol 1 atm CO2

WINE CLASSIFICATION TABLE WINES IGT DOC DOCG primum vivere, deinde philosophari - Mamertino di Milazzo D.O.C - Malvasia I.G.T, dessert wine - Capo Bianco I.G.T - Capo Rosso I.G.T - Primero I.G.T, new wine - Boldovino I.G.T, from Nero d’Avola grapes - Boldovino I.G.T, from Inzolia and Catarratto grapes - Salina I.G.T, from Ansonica and Catarratto grapes - Salina I.G.T, from Nero d’Avola and Sangiovese grape s

Today in Sicily a unique structure has been created to carry out a productive project concerning four wineries: it is the wine distribution and marketing company that is actually a young and flexible structure, perfect link between the vineyards and a glass of wine raised up to toast to… a sparkling future!

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