The new Nero d'Avola style
Winery Zisola | Winery location Contrada Zisola - Noto (Siracusa) | Grape varieties Nero d'Avola | Alcohol 12,84% |
Total acidity 5,72% | Vineyards location 130 m.a.s.l.; S/E exposure | Soil Medium texture, calcareous and mineral | Vineyards age 15 - 20 years |
Training system Head-pruned bush vines | Nr. of vines for hectare 5,550 | Harvest Hand picked from September 11st | Fermentation temperature 26 - 28 °C |
Period of maceration 14 - 16 days | Ageing 10 months in small french oak barrels (225 lt, 33% new) | Bottling September 2025 | Available on the market April 2026 |
Production 72,000 bottles | Formats 750 ml - 1,5 lt - 3 lt | First vintage 2004 | Ageing potential Up to 10 years |
Key descriptors Well built, forest fruits and sunny orange peel flavors, long and layared taste | Food pairing Spicy fish soups, savoury pasta and rice dishes, grilled red meats and vegetables |
Slightly above average temperatures were recorded in December and January, but these were offset by cold weather and abundant rainfall in February. Throughout Sicily, spring was characterised by frequent rainfall, with accumulations in May well above historical averages for the period. The vineyards' position between the Hyblean Mountains and the sea meant they benefited from constant currents that considerably reduced leaf wetting. The rains created an excellent water reserve, allowing for constant and homogeneous bunch growth. During the summer, two heatwaves with maximum temperatures exceeding 40 °C were recorded in the third week of July and the first week of August. The veraison phase of the bunches was slightly delayed by these temperatures, but vegetative development returned to normal in the first week of September thanks to the lower temperatures and the abundant rainfall, which was unusual for the period. These conditions led to the grapes achieving excellent phenolic and aromatic ripening. In terms of quantity, there was a modest decrease compared to the company average for both white and red grapes.
Beginning of the harvest: August 86th, 2023
End of the harvest: September 30th, 2023
Rainfall Index (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 171 mm
Temperatures Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 4.144 °C
Leaving our mark
The Francesco Mazzei's fingerprint symbolizes the will to leave a strong mark in the Sicilian viticulture, bringing there the tradition and the knowledge coming from 25 generations of winemaking.
Tailor-made experiences
Made in Italy | Allergens: contains sulphites
