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
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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