11 July 2025
Sicily is a land of contrasts, heady scents, and endless sunsets. But it’s also a wine continent unto itself – where every corner reveals a distinct character, and every grape variety has its own voice. From the slopes of Mount Etna to the sea-kissed whites of Marsala, through the baroque heart of the Val di Noto, the island tells its story through its wines: intense, sunlit, alive.
Wine in the cradle of the Mediterranean
Viticulture in Sicily reaches back millennia. The Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans all understood the value of Sicilian grapes, grown in volcanic and limestone soils softened by the sea. Today, Sicily has the largest vineyard surface area of any Italian region – but what truly sets its wine apart is the extraordinary variety of terroirs and native grapes: Nero d’Avola, Grillo, Catarratto, Frappato, Carricante, just to name a few.
In recent decades, the island has undergone a true wine renaissance – quality has taken the place of quantity, with site-driven interpretations and a winemaking culture that looks to the future without losing its roots.
Noto and Nero d’Avola: the red soul of the southeast
If Etna is the roaring giant, then the Val di Noto is the garden where wine smells of orange blossom and white stone. This is the birthplace of Nero d’Avola – Sicily’s most important red grape – known for producing wines that are both powerful and fresh, with elegant tannins and a strong Mediterranean identity.
It’s in this land that the Zisola project came to life, born from the vision of the Mazzei family, historic figures of the Chianti Classico. Since 2003, Zisola has been one of the estates most capable of expressing the true essence of Nero d’Avola – and of its Sicilian siblings.
Zisola: Mediterranean elegance in the heart of the Baroque
Just outside Noto, among almond trees, citrus groves, and centuries-old olive trees, lie the vineyards of Zisola: 50 hectares trained to alberello bush vines, planted in breezy, limestone-rich soils at 90–130 meters above sea level. This is artisanal viticulture, certified organic, focused on low yields and a deep connection to the land.
Alongside Nero d’Avola, Zisola cultivates Grillo, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Catarratto – all vinified with a clean, modern, and site-conscious style. Its flagship wine is Doppiozeta, an elegant Noto Rosso DOC that balances power with freshness, sunshine with finesse.
Within the Sicilian wine scene, Zisola stands as a distinctive voice – one that brings together elegance and brightness, craftsmanship and vision. A project that interprets the island’s southeast with a contemporary gaze, revealing its most authentic soul.
