The House Journal

We were recently lucky enough to be hosted on a wonderful trip to Sicily with Wanderlust Wines. We toured the vineyards on the eastern side in the Etna region visiting the beautiful ‘Girolamo Russo’ estate where we were treated to a tour of the vineyard, followed by a wine tasting and an authentic Sicilian lunch.

We then made our way over to the west coast where we were generously hosted by Fondo Antico in Trapani. We had some wonderful tours of their extensive vineyards and wineries followed by numerous fabulous Italian meals and apertivo events.

Girolamo Russo estate

In 2005 Giuseppe Russo founded his estate, named Girolamo as a tribute to his father, and has since been making organic wines in his family’s old vineyards. The vines, many of which aged 100 years, are planted at high altitude on ancient lava flows. This is the magic terroir that provides the trademark minerality and salinity of Russo’s wines.

The Russo’s are native to Passopisciaro, a village on Etna’s north slope, that has become the epicentre of the rebirth on one the most important indigenous varieties – Nerello Mascalese.

The Etna is Europe’s largest active volcano and it’s on its unique soils, at an altitude between 650 and 780 metres, that the Russo estate sprawls across 26 hectares of vines, olive trees and hazelnut groves. Many of the free-standing bush vines are over 80 years old, having evolved in harmony in Etna’s black, mineral-rich volcanic soil.

Giuseppe Russo makes some of the best wines on Etna.

Fondo Antico estate

Nestled in the western end of Sicily, Fondo Antico has been rooted in the Trapani region since 1920. With a rich history deeply intertwined with the island’s viticultural traditions, this family-owned estate focuses on producing wines that capture the essence of the unique terroir in Sicily. Today, the estate has flourished to a 80 hectares vineyard in Contrada Portelli.

Look out as for these fabulous wines in the near future at the houses.