With every sip, Stemmari Wines reflect the unique qualities of the island of Sicily and its longstanding history as a Mediterranean paradise. The full-bodied wines welcome winos to experience a true taste of Italy’s best wines from Robert Parker, named one of the next emerging wine regions (in Food & Wine), and Eric Asimov of The New York Times called Sicily “one of the most exciting wine regions in the world” (August 2013).
With a dedication to sustainable winemaking, Stemmari embraces the art of Sicilian living, which celebrates the island’s culture of generous hospitality, vibrant cuisine, and an intense respect for nature.
Stemmari estate vines are cultivated on two properties along the south coast of the island and is the second winery in Italy to earn Eco-Management and Audit Scheme certification. Stemmari boasts one of the most sustainable wine productions in the world – using green practices throughout to ensure efficient use of resources, preserve local flora, and ensure the production of quality wines for years to come. Replanted in 2002, more than 1,600 acres of vines of both indigenous and international grape varieties take root in single-varietal lots in the pockets of terrain that best suit the needs of each. In both the winery and the vineyards, state-of-the-art technology combines with the expertise of the agronomists and oenologists like Lucio Matricardi, Ph.D. to preserve the distinctive characters and rich nuances of each wine.
For Stemmari, Matricardi creates wines that speak to the true character of Sicily, modern and young styles of reds and whites with a fresh fruit presence rather than a jammy character.
Owned by Trentino-based Mezzacorona, which recognized the untapped potential of Sicily and invested $150 million in replanting and rebuilding the Stemmari estates, the Stemmari portfolio offers a wine for every palate: Four single-variety wines – Nero d’Avola ($9.99), Sicily’s most celebrated red varietal, Pinot Noir ($9.99), Pinot Grigio ($9.99), and native Moscato ($9.99), and two distinctive blends – Dalila ($13.99), featuring the Sicilian white varietal Grillo and Viognier, and Cantodoro ($13.99), with Nero d’Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Nero D’Avola, Sicily’s most celebrated red varietal, showcases ripe black cherry and mineral undertones. The elegant, dry Pinot Noir expresses the intensity of the island with a berry-like character supported by the gentle warmth of an underlying natural acidity. Fully fruited yet refreshingly crisp, Pinot Grigio features a bouquet reminiscent of white peach and the dried yellow wildflowers of the island. The indigenous Moscato offers fragrant aromas of white flowers and apricot and finishes with a smooth citrus note.
Stemmari’s two distinctive Sicilian blends are Dalila, a union between the Sicilian white varietal Grillo (traditionally used for Marsala) and the Rhône Valley varietal Viognier, expressing the sunlight and richness of Sicily’s soil in an elegant, rich white with a powerful nose, complemented by vanilla undertones; and Cantodoro, featuring Nero d’Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon, vinified and matured separately in French oak, then blended and matured for four months in wood barriques before refining in the bottle for eight months.
