Rapitalà

Rapitalà wines are the fruit of the happy union between the Sicilian soul and French know-how. In 1968, Count Hugues Bernard de la Gatinais and his wife Gigi Guarrasi of Palermo, inherited this estate, destroyed by the Belice earthquake of 1968. The cellar was rebuilt and the Belice Valley vineyards replanted, including not only the native varieties, but also some of the French varieties most loved by the Count de la Gatinais: so it happens that Rapitalà "takes possession" of the personality of the Sicilian terroir, freeing it with an elegant French wine style. At the forefront of the quality revolution in Sicily, Rapitalà was one of the first five producers on the island to offer estate bottled wines, starting with the 1976 vintage. The legacy of Hugues de la Gatinais and his wife Gigi, today it is led by his son Laurent who, with the same passion and determination, carries on the family mission of integrating and improving sustainable practices and new technologies, as well as making the prestige of these wines international. Continuing on the path of sustainability, Rapitalà has started to certify some of its vineyards as organic. The first Sicilian company to plant French vines, Tenuta Rapitalà extends over approximately 223 hectares on the hills between Alcamo and Camporeale, from 300 to 610 meters above sea level, and is exposed to the north. The grape harvest begins in August and ends in October, with a late harvest in November. This peculiarity of three or four months of harvesting in the same place is unique in the world and is due to the difference in altitude. The vineyards are dedicated to the cultivation of the typical Cataratto Lucido and Nero d'Avola, and also international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Syrah. The name Rapitalà translates to "Beautiful Garden of God" and indeed produces ethereal and powerful wines, which meet celestial expectations. Among the gems of this winery, the prestigious Nero d'Avola, the quintessence of the Sicilian grape translated into a full-bodied wine with the flavor of subtle spices, the Tenuta Rapitalà Grand Cru Chardonnay Sicilia IGT 2013, a refreshing expression of the captivating white berry, whose Fermentation begins in stainless steel and is completed in French oak, and the bewitching Nadir, 100% Sirah.