Innovation

Wines without borders

Mandrarossa is the result of over 20 years of research: expression of a different Sicily, which innovates and experiments. The unexpected side of Sicily.

Innovation

Innovation isn’t only keeping up with the trends. It isn’t what is new that advances. It is, however, a new version of tradition.
Innovation is the ability to pass on ancient treasures over time in new ways.
Innovation is to discover new properties, new characteristics, new aspects of keystones that acquire new value over time.

"For Mandrarossa innovation is researching a new identity for Sicilian wines."

Mandrarossa

Terra viva

Created in 1999 thanks to a study that lasted over 20 years, which led to selecting the best variety/terroir combinations: the ideal habitats that allow each grape variety to fully express its potential.

Our history

1999

After a long time spent mapping out the region in order to choose the best terroir, Mandrarossa finally came into existence.

2000

The new millennium had scarcely begun when Mandrarossa opened its doors to markets both national and international and made its official début at the first Vinitaly with a range originally comprising 7 produtcs.

2004

The year that witnessed the birth of what was to become Mandrarossa’s iconic Cartagho, Nero d’Avola which, within a few years, went on to be awarded the Tre Bicchieri by Gambero Rosso for 6 different vintages.

2010

The brand was radically re-vamped, with a totally restyled range and change of image with a new logo: from the ordinary vine-leaf to a dwarf palm, a symbol of the biodiversity and distinctiveness of the region around Menfi.

2012

The end of summer inaugurates the first edition of the Vineyard Tour, the event that will be a yearly recurrence with the Mandrarossa winelovers.

2014

The Wine Advocate by Robert Parker awards 90 points to the Santannella, an innovative blend of Fiano and Chenin Blanc.

2019

Mandrarossa celebrates its 20 years with the launch of the Vini di Contrada, a result of a five-year scientific study conducted on the limestone soils.

2020

Mandrarossa goes beyond its borders, from the lands of Menfishire to the foot of Mons Gebel and on to the jagged coasts of Cossyra. The results are the Etna DOC wines and the first wine from DOC Pantelleria.

Research

Made unique
by experimentations

After founding the Brand, result of years of studies of soil mapping, research continued to be the guiding light towards innovative Sicilian wines. In the territory of Menfi, where Mandrarossa is created, the behavior of other varieties was monitored in 5 experimental fields. Intense micro-vinification activities were carried out leading to the introduction of new wines into the product line over time, some of which, unique for the Sicilian panorama.

The progress

The study of
limestone soils

Mandrarossa’s ambition is great, and starting in 2014 a team of international oenologists, agronomists and terroir experts, launched an important scientific study on the limestone soils, leading to the production of two Contrada wines.

Mimmo De Gregorio and Filippo Buttafuoco, Oenologist and Wine-making expert for Mandrarossa, started, with the support of Alberto Antonini oenology consultant and Pedro Parra specialist in the study of microterroirs, as well as geologists from the University of Palermo, an in-depth research project on the Mandrarossa territory. The results of the analysis showed the great potential of the hillside area, with the presence of limestone parent rock from marine origin, which were the focus of the study. Using electroconductivity tests, a microterroir with a high qualitative potential was discovered in the two selected districts called “contrade”, in which the two best vineyards were chosen from the two best vintages. So far: one Grillo variety (in Contrada Bertolino Soprano) and two Nero d’Avola varieties (in Contrada Miccina) used to produce the white “Bertolino Soprano 2017” and the red “Terre del Sommacco 2016”, the two new Mandrarossa wines presented at Vinitaly 2019.

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