The beginning of grape cultivation, with the production of wine, brought forward by the Tornatore Family, dates back to 1865, when the great grandfather of the current owner began the farming activity. In 1910 the Grandfather Giuseppe built a house with a millstone in the district of Piano Fiera with adjacent 2 hectares of vineyards in addition to other two hectares on the North side of the Etna, in the district of Piano Felci at 1,000 m above sea level.
The Tornatore family has always had a detailed knowledge of the territories of the town of Castiglione di Sicilia since Grandfather Giuseppe and Uncle Giovanni were appointed land registry makers at the beginning of the thirties, accompanying the surveyor to detect cadastral parcels, to define boundaries and names of the local districts.
In that same period dates also the construction of an oil-mill annex to the winery, which has been active through all technological evolutions until the ‘70s.
Thus a Family with deep roots in their territory of origin, which in the following generations never neglected affection and respect to it and to the traditions.

The agricultural activity of the Company is based on the ownership of 110 hectares of which 60 hectares of vineyards. As a consequence, Tornatore’s vineyards are one of the largest the Etna DOC production area.
Tornatore’s vineyards count several locations in different districts: among them the remarkable contrade of Bragaseggi, Piano dei Daini, Zottorinotto, Pietrarizzo, Malpasso, Pietramarina, Torre Guarino, Carranco and Trimarchisa, all in the Castiglione di Sicilia Municipality.
The altitude ranges from 550 to 700 meters above sea level and the age of the vineyards varies from 3 to 40 years for the Reds and 3 to 10 years for the Whites. The Company’s vineyards have been recently reorganized in order to improve the quality standards and maintain the bond both with the territory and the winemaking traditions (high plant density, rigidly native variety).
Particular attention has been paid to the processing of our vineyards. A high number of vines per hectare (approx. 6,000) has been maintained and an upwards-trained vertical-trellised system has been selected with 3/4 cordon spurs and a distance of mt 2.20×0.80. There are about 4 hectares of gobelets with a distance of mt 1.10×1.10.
The existing vines are Etna’s native in compliance with the rules of Etna DOC wines production. in particular:

In particular:
• Red Berry Nerello Mascalese and Nero Cappuccio
• White Berry Carricante and Catarratto.

The grape harvest is done by hand. Subsequently transported in special crates, the grapes are vinified in a modern winery capable of maintaining high standards of quality, with maximum respect for the tradition. The grapes are selected and processed manually in order to better enhance the characteristics of each vineyard.

Aged in oak barrels located in a completely buried rooms, with insulation made of Etna basalt blocks arranged on walls and floor of the cellar in a workmanlike manner.The wines produced are all DOC wines, Etna Red, White, Rosé and Sparkling one.

The winery has the latest modern equipment, but made with low environmental impact with maximum respect of the surroundings. For the operation of the winery renewable energy sources are used, in order to lower the environmental impact.