Gorghi Tondi Coste a Preola Grillo 2022 (Sicily) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, organic Grillo from Sicily that arrived at the LCBO on the weekend in the May 11th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It is also featured in the theme of the release: The Wine Pantheon - Classic Euro Regions, and is widely available across Ontario today.

It is produced by Tenuta Gorghi Tondi, a family-owned estate winery located in the extreme western part of Sicily. The story of Gorghi Tondi begins with Dora, the great-grandmother of sisters Annamaria and Clara Sala, who had a love for nature, grapes, and for the land that, even a century later, continues to move the current generation of the family. Tenuta Gorghi Tondi was established in 2000 by Michele, who worked in the wine business for over forty years, and together his wife Doretta decided to start a family-owned company with their two daughters - Annamaria and Clara. The two sisters returned home from their careers and were surrounded by the family vineyards and wines, while facing a new challenge to build a future and bringing back the old dream of making premium wines in Sicily.

Situated within a nature reserve on the western part of the island of Sicily, the Sala family have been growing grapes in the area for four generations. In defence of a unique viticultural and environmental heritage, Tenuta Gorghi Tondi is led by Annamaria and Clara Sala, a family that safeguards the heritage today just as it did a century ago, while in perfect balance with its surrounding environment.

The Sala family has a strong bond with their territory, especially the High, Medium, and Low "whirlpools" (the so-called "Gorghi") that are at the heart of an oasis, which is also the inspiration for the name of the winery - Gorghi Tondi, or Round Whirlpools. Tenuta Gorghi Tondi is within a naturalistic oasis that has been protected by the WWF since 1998 because it contains a treasure of volatile and aquatic species, and rare flora. They have two properties - Ramisella and San Nicola, both within the Mazara del Vallo countryside, covering over 130 hectares of vines which overlook the horizon and are cradled by the sea breeze. The vineyards are located on mostly flat land of medium-textured soil, tending to limestone, and are characterized by excellent depth and permeability, and are close to the four small lakes of the Lakes Preola and Gorghi Tondi Nature Reserve, inside a karst depression formed due to the rains that eroded the surrounding area over time.

Organic viticulture and sustainability are core values at Tenuta Gorghi Tondi. All grapes are grown organically and certified, without the use of any synthetic chemicals, and emergency irrigation is practiced only if absolutely necessary to maintain the authentic aromas and flavours of the grapes. Gorghi Tondi actively protects flora and fauna, practices low impact on the environment, eco-sustainability, and maximum control and care for all operations in the vineyard and in the cellar. At the estate, Gorghi Tondi uses clean energy to allow for sustainable development and protect the ecosystem.

This white wine is from Gorghi Tondi's Territoriali Collection - a group of single varietal wines from their youngest vineyards. Crafted with 100% Grillo, the name of this wine is "Coste a Preola", which pays tribute to Sicily and its biodiversity, and is also the name of the vineyards' area where this Grillo was organically grown. Situated near the estate, the vineyard is also close to the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Preola within the WWF Nature Reserve. The Coste a Preola Grillo is a wine that symbolizes the strong bond between Gorghi Tondi and the oasis. Grillo is the main variety grown on the estate with over 40% of the vineyards dedicated to the varietal. Grillo benefits from a high day-night temperature range, as well as the "marine aerosol" action of the sea breeze, and the changing climatic conditions, all of which are favourable to producing excellent quality Grillo grapes.

Coste a Preola is located in southwestern Sicily, in the countryside of Mazara del Vallo, Trapani, within the San Nicola District, at an elevation of about 25 metres above sea level. The Grillo grapes come from single Guyot trained vines that are nearly 20 years old and planted on soil composed of a medium-textured limestone substrate tending to sandy. To craft this wine, the grapes were fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks and remained in tanks for 5 months to mature on its lees.

From a favourable growing season that will be remembered as an excellent vintage, let's see how this 2022 Grillo from Sicily is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

GORGHI TONDI COSTE A PREOLA GRILLO 2022 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#11670) (XD) - $18.95
This organic white wine has a medium-high intensity nose that is elegantly aromatic with depth, offering lovely yellow fruit, lemon oil citrus, earthy-leesy minerality, white peach, and apple aromas with whiffs of sea breeze and white florals adding further complexity. It has good weight on the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied, well-structured palate with a lightly honeyed profile of lemon, apple, wild herbs, and saline mineral flavours. It has a very good, well-structured and textured mouthfeel and juicy, slightly tart acidity. Mineral notes linger on the savoury, lengthy, and textured finish. Should improve over the next 3-4 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

A higher-end Grillo by Gorghi Tondi will be available at the LCBO in the coming days, while the entire portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.