WILD VINES, PERHAPS INZOLIA OR CATARRATTO AND PRE-PHYLLOXERA, GROWING IN THE SAND DUNES THREE METERS FROM THE SEA HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED ON LIDO FIORI BEACH IN MENFI, NEAR THE MANDRAROSSA VINEYARDS OF CANTINE SETTESOLI (HARVEST IN PROGRESS)

Wild vines are growing immersed in sand dunes just three meters from the sea. The extraordinary discovery was made at Menfi, on the Lido Fiori beach, where the community of Mandrarossa (Cantine Settesoli) winemakers has just started harvesting.
“They could be Inzolia or Catarratto vines growing wild in the sand, probably survivors of vineyards formerly cultivated in these areas”, said Filippo Buttafuoco, agronomist of Cantine Settesoli. “The roots are almost immersed in the sea water. We need to study the high resistance, almost unique in the world, of these plants”.
“It is a rare, historic and unique heritage”, said Franco Gagliano of the Regional Agriculture, Rural Development and Mediterranean Fishing Department, “probably of non grafted vines that survived the phylloxera epidemic in the late nineteenth century, and from which vineyards in our area have been repopulated. Obviously, these are visual evaluations that must be confirmed by appropriate studies, particularly in terms of genetics as well as wine, since the clusters are surprisingly healthy and can be used for a small experimental evaluation”.
Meanwhile, the Mandrarossa winemakers (www.mandrarossa.it) and Settesoli Winery (www.cantinesettesoli.it) have already started harvesting Sauvignon Blanc, and will start Chardonnay in a week, reaching the clou of the harvest, which is the Mandrarossa Vineyard Tour on August 29th and 30th.
“The dry heat in July and August has already ripened the grapes that are excellent quality”, said Buttafuoco, “predicting an optimum harvest in "Menfishire". The experience will be accessible to everyone for two days during the Vineyard tour - the event founded on agriculture, food, wine and territory to discover Menfi and its surrounding areas. The event is dedicated to wine lovers, wine tourists, lovers of outdoor tourism, who will participate hands-on in the harvest, listen to stories and tales of harvests in the vineyards and taste the wine produced. It is the biggest event dedicated to vintage Europe's largest harvest, to celebrate a ritual that still marks the rhythm of the community that inhabits this pristine corner of Sicily - a vineyard that stretches for 6.000 hectares, where there are 27 different grape varieties, an unspoiled natural habitat, made of green hills overlooking the sea.