
One of the first iconic Sicilian wines




Winery Zisola |
Winery location Contrada Zisola - Noto, Sicilia |
Grape varieties Catarratto |
Alcohol 11.95% |
Total acidity 6.01% |
Vineyards location 130 m.a.l.m.; S/E exposure |
Soil Medium texture, calcareous and mineral |
Training system Hand-pruned bush vines |
Nr. of vines per hectare 5.550 |
Harvest Hand picked from September 5th and 13th |
Vinification 50% on the skins in "cocciopesto" amphora for 3 months; 50% typical white wine vinification "sur lies" |
Fermentation temperature At low temperature (15°C) |
Bottling October 2024 |
Available on the market April 2025 |
Production 6.400 bottles |
Formats 750 ml - 1,5 lt |
First vintage 2021 |
L’inizio dell’inverno ha fatto registrare temperature leggermente sopra la media tra dicembre e gennaio, compensate dall’arrivo del freddo e da abbondanti precipitazioni nel mese di Febbraio. La primavera del 2023 è stata caratterizzata in tutta la Sicilia da piogge frequenti e con accumuli nel mese di maggio ben al di sopra delle medie storiche del periodo; la posizione dei vigneti tra i Monti Iblei ed il mare ha beneficiato di costanti correnti che hanno ridotto notevolmente le bagnature fogliari e ridotto sensibilmente i problemi fitosanitari, che hanno invece caratterizzato quasi tutta la regione Sicilia. Le piogge cadute hanno creato un'ottima riserva idrica, che ha consentito un costante ed omogeneo accrescimento dei grappoli. Il periodo estivo ha visto due ondate di calore con temperature massime sopra i 40 °C nella terza settimana di luglio e la prima di agosto, tali temperature hanno leggermente ritardato la fase di invaiatura dei grappoli, ma lo sviluppo vegetativo è poi tornato nei tempi regolari grazie all'abbassamento termico alle abbondanti piogge della prima settimana di settembre, insolite per il periodo. Tale situazione ha portato ad un’ottima maturazione fenolica ed aromatica delle uve. La data di vendemmia è stata leggermente anticipata per le varietà bianche e nella media per le rosse. Dal punto di vista quantitativo si è avuta una lieve riduzione rispetto alla media aziendale sia per le uve bianche che per le rosse.
Inizio vendemmia uve bianche: 28/08/2023
Inizio vendemmia uve rosse: 31/08/2023
Fine vendemmia: 30/09/2023
Indice piogge (Somma delle precipitazioni dal 1/4 al 30/9): 171 mm
Indice temperature (Somma della temperatura media giornaliera dal 1/4 al 30/9): 4.144 °C
Winery Zisola |
Winery location Contrada Zisola - Noto, Sicilia |
Grape varieties Catarratto |
Alcohol 13% |
Total acidity 7.3% |
Vineyards location 130 m.a.l.m.; S/E exposure |
Soil Medium texture, calcareous and mineral |
Training system Hand-pruned bush vines |
Nr. of vines per hectare 5.550 |
Harvest Hand picked from August 15th |
Vinification 50% on the skins in "cocciopesto" amphora for 3 months; 50% typical white wine vinification "sur lies" |
Fermentation temperature At low temperature (15°C) |
Bottling October 2023 |
Available on the market March 2024 |
Production 6.000 bottles |
Formats 750 ml - 1,5 lt |
First vintage 2021 |
Falstaff 94 Pts | Wine Advocate 93 Pts |
The winter was characterised by below average temperatures, with some frosts and low levels of rainfall, which laid down the basis for good plant health conditions.
The vegetative awakening and fruit-setting stages benefitted from the mild spring temperatures, which ended in May with the arrival of a series of heat waves.
The summer was extremely anomalous by Sicilian standards, with peak temperatures over 40°C, but with sudden and substantial temperature changes, and light rainfall in September, that delayed the harvest by 10 days, with respect to previous years.
The result of the harvest is most satisfactory, yielding a production of elegant wines, in line with the company’s research.
Beginning of the harvest: August 26th, 2022
End of the harvest: October 5th, 2022
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 183 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 4.299 °C
Evaluation: Good
Winery Zisola |
Winery location Contrada Zisola - Noto, Sicilia |
Grape varieties Catarratto |
Alcohol 12% |
Total acidity 9.41% |
Vineyards location 130 m.a.l.m.; S/E exposure |
Soil Medium texture, calcareous and mineral |
Training system Hand-pruned bush vines |
Nr. of vines per hectare 5.550 |
Harvest Hand picked from August 15th |
Vinification 50% on the skins in "cocciopesto" amphora for 3 months; 50% typical white wine vinification "sur lies" |
Fermentation temperature At low temperature (15°C) |
Bottling July 2022 |
Available on the market March 2023 |
Production 7.500 bottles |
Formats 750 ml - 1,5 lt |
First vintage 2021 |
Robert Parker 92 Pts | Falstaff 95 Pts |
The hot, dry summer contributed to delaying the harvest until September, with much milder temperatures and better air quality, thanks to some long-awaited and much-needed rainfall.
In terms of the climate and wine results, it is very reminiscent of the unequivocal 2014 vintage. Very elegant wines obtained with extremely impressive structure and good body. A balance achieved over the years through the confluence of plant soil and climate, also evolves in 2021 heralding plenty of satisfaction.
Beginning of the harvest: August 26th, 2021
End of the harvest: October 5th, 2021
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 83 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 4.286 °C
Evaluation: Very Good
Made in Italy | Allergens: contains sulphites
100% Catarratto
Catarratto variety, the most widespread white grape in Sicily, hase been present on the territory since ancient times and becomes now protagonist at Zisola with Contrada Zisola, a 100% Catarratti wherewith the Mazzei family continues its goal of enhancing indigenous grape varieties of Sicily. In a region historically renowned for its red wines, Contrada Zisola is both deeply identity-driven and courageously innovative: a white gem that shines in a land of reds.
Structure and longevity
The passion for this land has encouraged us to acquire a deep knowledge of the micro climate, the resources availability, soil characteristics and biological complexity of each parcel.
This uniqueness is enhanced thanks to a sartorial work in the vineyard.
We pay the same attention to each harvest and each wine of the estate which expresses an original and true interpretation of great potentiality of the various grape in this corner of Sicily.