According to Rossella Bagliesi, this quality is due to the altitude – 300 metres above sea level – and to mainly chalky soil. “These elements give the wines extreme appreciative qualities”.

If you also consider that the vineyards are just a few kilometres away from the baroque city f Naro and the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento, the relationship with the territory becomes a good business opportunity. “We work with wine tourism and with travel agencies because our position allows us to be included in tours, even if lately the Valley of the Temples has no longer its ancient appeal”. Amongst the last who visited the company, there were schools and groups from the Nato base of Sigonella (Catania).

But not only. The management of the vineyards follows the rule of organic agriculture, thanks to Icea certification, the Institute for the ethic and environmental certification, which was born from the Aiab, that now assists companies. “The grapes are cultivated without the use of insecticides and manure, but just with sulphur and organic manure”.

A new web site (still under construction) and new labels to give a new image to the company should be arriving soon. The wines are eight: two monovarietal whites, Chardonnay and Catarratto, four red monovarietal wines, Nero D’Avola, Syrah, Cabernet sauvignon and Merlot, and from this year also a rosé wine Nero D’Avola and a Cabernet and Merlot blend. “After many years of work on monovarietal wines, we decided to experiment a blend – ended the young manager – because we are convinced we will obtain an interesting product.

Azienda Agricola Bagliesi. Via Saffi 138 - 92029 Ravanusa (Ag). Telephone: 0039-0922874177, fax: 0039 0922 874177. E-mail: rossella.bagliesi@virgilio.it; web-site: www.bagliesi.it.

Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute