Cantine Madaudo
Sicily - Italy
The Winery
Rosario Madaudo's legacy of wine started with a small farm back in 1945, when his great-grandfather began working their first vines in Villafranca Tirrena, a small, coastal commune on the Thyrrenian side of Messina in the northeast corner of Sicily. Today, the young winemaker assists his father, Alfio, and uncle, Andrea, oversee a thriving business that includes 20 hectares on the north slope of Mt. Etna (some 90 km away), 40 hectares in the Agrigento (on the other side of the island), and a hip wine bar devoted to bubbly attached to the winery in their hometown. What impresses Rosario the most is what happened in the years he went away to school in Milano, studying first economics and then getting a masters in food and wine communications. Upon returning home, he was amazed at how his elders had taken a small family business and added an exponential, expanding production far beyond the previous generation. He speaks excitedly both of their accomplishments and of his own desire to bring the business full circle one day by adding a small, single estate to the equation. In the meantime, he remains humble and industrious in the cellar, working alongside his younger brother, Giuseppe, cousins Maria Pia and Cristina, and also his wife Alda, whom he met in school in Milan.
A mainstay in Messina (also a mecca of Sicilian street food), sparkling wine remains a center of gravity for the Madaudo family - they produce a wide array of bubbles, spanning both traditional method and charmat. For their Grillo Cuvee, grapes are grown in the high, warm hills of the the Agrigento region. (The base wine is then transported to their bottling facility in Messina.) This first love also influenced their choice of enologists: extremely well-known in Sicily, Vito Giovinco specializes in Sicilian sparkling wine and, as it happens, himself owns vineyards in the same two areas as the Madaudo's: Sambuca di Siclia and the Contrada San Lorenzo cru on the north slope of Etna. Coincidence? Possibly... or perhaps they all know something the rest of us do not!

- Enologist
- Vito Giovinco
- Grapes Grown by Winery
- Carricante, Catarratto, Grillo, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d'Avola,
- Vineyard Size
- 60.0 ha
- Winemaker
- Alfio & Rosario Maduado
- Winemaker Biography
- With all hands on deck, Cantine Madaudo is a true Sicilian family affair: 4th generation winemaker Rosario Madaudo works beside his father, Alfio, and uncle, Andrea, along with his younger brother, Giuseppe and two cousins, Maria Pia and Cristina. Together, they have transformed a small family tradition into a serious estate with vineyards in both Sambuca di Sicilia and the north slope of Mt. Etna.
- Winemaker Generation
- 3rd & 4th

Grillo Cuvee Spumante Extra Dry Sicilia DOC
A true extra dry, this friendly sparkler from the environs of Sambuca in Sicily (Agrigento) is playful from start to finish. The nose offers subtle lemon-lime aromas with hints of minerality and peach candy, while the palate yields warm citrus and just a touch of sweetness. Not overly dry on the finish, it's the perfect companion to antipasti or grilled seafood, and a great, southern Italian alternative to Prosecco.
- Color
- Pale straw
- Nose
- Light lemon-orange with hints of minerality and peach candy
- Palate
- Warm citrus with just a bit of sweetness
- Finish
- Friendly, crowd-pleasing
- Vineyard Location
- Sicilia DOC, Sicily
- Vineyard Size
- 15 ha
- Varietals List
- 100% Grillo
- Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified), dry-farmed, grapes picked by hand
- Elevation
- 350 m
- Soils
- Clay and limestone
- Maturation Summary
- In Steel for 6-9 months and Bottled for 3 months
- In Steel
- 6-9 months
- Alcohol
- 11.5 %
- Acidity
- 6.0 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 14 g/liter
Nerello Mascalese Brut IGT
Fun, unusual, and extremely well-made, this everyday "blanc de noirs" take on Etna's famous red grape left us grinning from ear to ear. After a subtle nose of lemon blossoms, the palate takes over with its bold architecture, bright acidity, and pronounced flavors of lemon curd. While winemaker Rosario Madaudo and his father produce several still wines, they are well-known locally for their diverse array of Sicilian bubblies, all offered up at "Palaverve", the family's hip sparkling wine bar in Messina.
- Color
- Bright, pale straw
- Nose
- Subtle notes of lemon pith and blossom
- Palate
- Bold yet bright, with pronounced lemon curd
- Finish
- Clean and balanced
- Vineyard Location
- Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily
- Vineyard Size
- 20 ha
- Varietals List
- 100% Nerello Mascalese
- Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified), dry-farmed, grapes picked by hand
- Elevation
- 600 m
- Soils
- Volcanic
- Maturation Summary
- In Steel for 6 months and Bottled for 3 months
- In Steel
- 6 months
- Alcohol
- 11.5 %
- Acidity
- 2.5 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 6 g/liter
Barone di Bernaj Alcamo Bianco DOC
Grown at 300-400 meters just 10 minutes from the sea, Rosario Madaudo's vines deliver a fresh and pleasantly dry Mediterranean wine from Sicily's NW corner. Calcareous clay soils and the addition of 15% Inzolia both help to underpin the wine's acidity, with its baseline Catarratto providing structure and fruit. Constant breezes from the Gulf of Castellmare both mitigate the summertime heat and help invest the wine with a bit of salinity... making it perfect to enjoy with a Niçoise salad or tower of chilled scampi.
- Color
- Light straw with green highlights
- Nose
- Lemon grove and stone fruit blossom
- Palate
- Fresh and dry, with good minerality
- Finish
- Lingering and salty
- Vineyard Location
- Alcamo DOC, Sicily
- Vineyard Size
- 3 ha
- Varietals List
-
85% Catarratto
15% Inzolia - Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified), dry-farmed, grapes picked by hand
- Elevation
- 300-400 m
- Soils
- Calcareous clay
- Maturation Summary
- Bottled for 1 month
- Alcohol
- 12.0 %
- Acidity
- 5.1 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 3 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 50 bottles
Barone di Bernaj Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
A traditional blend from Sicily's lone DOCG, this fresh and friendly wine weaves together the dark fruit of Nero d'Avola with the freshness and aromatics of Frappato. 6 months in French barriques help to elevate the wine without detracting from its lighter style (or affordable price point). Vineyards are planted at 500 m just east of the Mount Etna DOC, sharing in its sun-drenched clime and pure volcanic soils. The perfect pairing for vibrant Mediterranean fare!
- Color
- Light ruby
- Nose
- Dark orchard fruit,
- Palate
- Medium-bodied with flavors of dark plum, chocolate, and tobacco leaf
- Finish
- Clean, with hints of earth spice and herbs
- Vineyard Location
- Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, Sicily
- Vineyard Size
- 3 ha
- Varietals List
-
60% Nero d'Avola
40% Frappato - Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified), dry-farmed, grapes picked by hand
- Elevation
- 500 m
- Soils
- 100% volcanic
- Maturation Summary
- Bottled for 1 month
- Alcohol
- 13.5 %
- Acidity
- 5.6 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1.6 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 20,000 bottles
Barone di Bernaj Frappato Terre Siciliane IGT
Perfect for a summer afternoon, Rosario Madaudo's fresh and fruity Frappato hails from 500 meters just outside the Etna growing zone, sharing in that sub-region's warm climate and 100% volcanic soils. On the nose, this wine exhibits vibrant cherry, balsamic, and black pepper notes... with a palate that's clean and refreshing for a red yet maintains its poise in the glass. Try with a slight chill and some homemade bruschetta - nothing better!
- Color
- Light cherry
- Nose
- Black cherry, balsamic, black pepper and tumeric
- Palate
- Fresh in style, but with good grip and mouthfeel
- Finish
- Clean and friendly
- Vineyard Location
- Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily
- Vineyard Size
- 3 ha
- Varietals List
- 100% Frappato
- Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified), dry-farmed, grapes picked by hand
- Elevation
- 500 m
- Soils
- 100% volcanic
- Maturation Summary
- In Steel for 6 months and Bottled for 1 month
- In Steel
- 6 months
- Alcohol
- 13.0 %
- Acidity
- 5.8 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 2.2 g/liter
Sicilia Illustrata Etna Rosso DOC
From the high altitude, volcanic soils of Mount Etna's Contrada San Lorenzo comes this classic Sicilian powerhouse loaded with dark fruits, vertical tannins, and telltale elements of tobacco and smoke. Father-son winemakers Alfio and Rosario Madaudo have crafted a wine that speaks directly to their island's warm climate, but simultaneously showcases an elegance we more often associate with wines from the north. Lush, lingering, sophisticated, and waiting for bold summertime flavors off the grill.
- Color
- Dark cherry skin
- Nose
- Dark cherry, tobacco, and black cassis
- Palate
- Elegant, lush, and sophisticated
- Finish
- Lingering fruit and vertical tannins
- Vineyard Location
- Etna DOC, Sicily
- Vineyard Size
- 12 ha
- Varietals List
-
90% Nerello Mascalese
10% Nerello Cappuccio - Farming Practices
- Organically farmed (non-certified), dry-farmed, grapes picked by hand
- Elevation
- 600 m
- Soils
- Volcanic
- Maturation Summary
- In small barrels for 4 months and bottled for 2 months
- Alcohol
- 14.0 %
- Acidity
- 5.5 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 20,000 bottles