Cantine Settesoli Le Sene Aglianico 2016

Seven brothers used the money their father left them to plant a vineyard. New to such a venture, they called in a French winemaker for advice, but given the risk was theirs, made it clear they had the final say.

Just before their first harvest, their mother passed away. While the brothers attended her funeral, the French winemaker declared the grapes ready to pick. But the workers refused, saying they must wait before picking the grapes, for 'seven sons'. As the Sicilian workers spoke no French, and he no Italian, they communicated in smatterings of English, and the Frenchman understood them to mean another seven days of sunshine. Thus the grapes remained on the vines an extra week, the rich, peppery, berry flavours growing more intense by the hour. So positive was the outcome, the seven extra days of sun have been granted every vintage since.

Cantine Settesoli is the largest winery in Sicily and, at 6,000 hectares, owns the largest collective vineyard in Europe, counting approximately 5% of vineyards across Sicily. The winery was established in 1958 and today operates between locations in Menfi, Montevago and Santa Margherita di Belice. Their goal is to have quality in quantity, maintaining this quality throughout their vintages.

They continuously strive to express the traditional values of winemaking in Sicily through their wine production. The fruits for Cantine Settesoli wines are grown on a unique territory which has been cultivated with passion by several generations of wine growers.