Planeta

Without the drive and clear quality ideas of Francesca, Alessio and Santi Planeta, Sicily would perhaps not be one of Italy's most interesting wine regions today. For among the first Sicilian wines to free the Mediterranean island from its reputation for cheap mass-produced wine was none other than Planeta's magnificent and now world-famous Chardonnay.

The reason why the Cousin trio did not immediately choose one of the many Sicilian grape varieties, but rather a French one, is that in the 1980s, the indigenous varieties were mainly used for the production of inexpensive cask wines. The ideal recipe for success was therefore to bring the unique island terroir to the outside world first and foremost with the help of grape varieties that were already internationally known - which ultimately secured the Sicilian winery a well-deserved ticket to the world's wine markets.

Planeta's Chardonnay thus demonstrated that Sicily has much more to offer than just simple bulk wine. Over the past two decades, the three young winemakers have established themselves among the most important producers on the island thanks to their high quality standards. With over 390 hectares, the focus is now also on the incredibly exciting autochthonous grape varieties, which are cultivated by the family in the predestined wine regions of Sicily.

After a long period of research in the main wineries Ulmo and Dispensa near Menfi - where they still focus mainly on the production of international grape varieties - the Planetas also expanded further south to the area of Vittoria with the Dorilli winery and later to Noto with the construction of the Buonivini winery. These locations are mainly reserved for the indigenous grape varieties, such as Frappato or the popular Nero d'Avola. However, in the search for the most demanding cultivation zones on the island, they could not refrain from also settling on the lava-spitting Etna to create outstanding volcanic wines at the Feudo di Mezzo estate. The La Baronia winery in Capo Milazzo opposite the Aeolian Islands is also part of Planeta, where the ancient Nocera grape variety thrives. Grinning, Francesca told us in conversation at the time: "And we tell ourselves every year that this will be the last winery."

This promise was obviously not set in stone, because at the same time as the 2022 harvest, Planeta's new winery opened its doors on the Monte Cirami in Sambuca di Sicilia. Here, the four top red wines are now vinified exclusively in organic production (starting with the 2022 vintage): Didacus Rosso, Burdese, Maroccoli and Sito dell'Ulmo.

The project is based on the ambition to constantly optimise the quality of Planeta wines and to create a place that corresponds to the company's production philosophy and where all the knowledge and skills are concentrated. Monte Cirami, an exceptional place in terms of landscape, represents the centuries-old harmony between man and nature. Here, great, expressive red wines are produced with enormous care. A modern winery that is careful to preserve the original characteristics of the grapes as much as possible.

"The need to create a place for the production of excellent red wines stems from the desire to dedicate equally special spaces to special wines. The idea of providing the most important wines with a physical production and processing space that meets their needs is a fitting tribute to the quality of the product and a dream we have cherished for years," comments CEO Alessio Planeta on the opening of this heartfelt project.

From west to east, the Planeta name is spread across seven boutique wineries. In order to inspire with more top Sicilian wines, the philosophy of the company puts the preservation and exploration of the breathtakingly beautiful territory at the very top. Their rich and unique wine selection, with its uncompromising quality and a Mediterranean flavour, undoubtedly reflects the true potential of the popular Italian wine island. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Planeta family boasts a gifted hand in marketing and their hard work has only helped to develop the Sicily brand within the many foreign markets they penetrate. Enormous credit goes to them." Robert Parker