Azienda Agricola Porta del Vento
Marco Sferlazzo
Camporeal
Under the artistry of owner/winemaker Marco Sferlazzo, Porta del Vento is making some of the most exciting, wines in all of Sicily and beyond.
Marco is a dedicated winemaker who came to winemaking after a long career as a pharmacist in Camporeal, in the province of Palermo. The vines that would become the Porta Del Vento estate were being tended by a larger, corporate company who decided to pull up aging Perricone and Catarratto vines to plant Merlot or something. Marco found this distasteful and decided to purchase the vines himself and convert all the vineyards to organic and biodynamic agriculture.
The tiny, Porta del Vento winery sits 2000 feet above Palermo, near the village of Camporeale, an area of Sicily where nature can be very harsh. The vineyard extends for eighteen hectares on the hills of the area of Alcamo doc and Monreale doc. Sandy soils on sandstone crust. Vineyards are mainly cultivated with "alberello" system and are almost fifty years old, exposed to the north following the steep slopes of the land. At 600m elevation, on incredibly steep slopes, this area is known for constant, brutal winds, blowing through the vineyards. These ever-present winds, along with the large, diurnal, temperature range, allow for wines of great concentration, character, low alcohol and racy acidity. The 100% Certified Organic and Biodynamic wines, which adhere to a strict, non-interventionist approach are produced unfiltered, so as to not deprive them of the elements that make them unique. Porta del Vento's wines are uniquely expressive, conveying emotion and terroir.
NV
“Grapparosa”
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
Artisanal method, discontinuous distillation in small boilers. Aged 18 months in small stainless steel tanks.
Brut Nature "Mira"
VARIETY : Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Second fermentation in bottle by adding must to the base wine.
20 months on the lees before disgorgement.
Blanc de Noir "Lyr" Spumante
VARIETY : Perricone blanc de noir
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Second fermentation in bottle by adding must to the base wine.
15 months on lees before disgorgement.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Voria" Bianco NV
VARIETY : Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Fermentation in cement tanks
Second fermentation in bottle by adding must to the base wine. Not filtered and not disgorged.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Voria" Orange Frizzante NV
VARIETY : Catarratto / Grillo
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Grapes are de-stemmed, fermentation in cement vats for 4 months on noble lees.
Separately macerated, blended and aged together. Second fermentation in bottle occurs after adding must to the base wine. Not filtered and not disgorged.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Voria" Rosato NV
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Fermentation in cement tanks
Second fermentation in bottle by adding must to the base wine. Not filtered and not disgorged.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Voria" Rosso NV
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR : Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Fermentation in Cement Tanks
Second fermentation in bottle by adding must to the base wine. Not filtered and not disgorged.
IGP Terre Siciliane Maque Rosso NV
VARIETY : 60% Nero d’Avola / 40% Perricone
TERROIR :
Sandy soil with presence of sandstone rock. North-South exposure.
550 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in late September.
VINIFICATION :
Grapes de-stemmed after cold pre-fermentation. 10 day maceration, malolactic in cement tanks. Aged 12 months in cement tanks.
Aged in bottle 6 months.
IGP Terre Siciliane “Altroverso” NV
VARIETY : Nerello Mascalese
TERROIR :
Sandy soil with presence of sandstone rock. North-South exposure.
550 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
50 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked.
VINIFICATION :
Grapes de-stemmed after cold pre-fermentation. 8 day maceration, in concrete
Aged in bottle 6 months in concrete.
2021
DOC Monreale "Catarratto" 2021
VARIETY : Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION :
Six months in cement tanks
IGP Terre Siciliane "Saharay" 2021
VARIETY : Macerated Catarratto
TERROIR : Sandy Soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Catarratto bianco de-stemmed and fermented with a skin contact for 30 days in concrete vats at a controlled temperature, soft pressing in hydraulic press. Aged for twelve months in 25 hl oak casks. Aged in bottle 4-6 months.
IGP Terre Siciliane “Falling Moon” / “Luna Calante” 2021
VARIETY : Macerated Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy Soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Fermented with skin contact for 30 days, traditional vinification in open concrete vats at a room temperature of about 24 degrees, frequent hand-pressing over 24 hours. Soft pressing in hydraulic press. Aged for ten months in stainless steel tanks.
2022
DOC Sicilia "Ishac" 2021
VARIETY : Nero d'Avola
TERROIR : 450 meters in altitude, North-South exposure, clay. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in early September
VINIFICATION :
Destemming after cooling.
Malolactic fermentation for 10-12 days in cement tanks. Aged in large casks for 12 months + 6 months in bottle.
DOC Monreale "Perricone" 2021
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR :
Limestone
600 meters in altitude facing north-south.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
60 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST :
hand picked in early October
VINIFICATION : Grapes are destemmed and fermented at a controlled cold temperature. Malolactic fermentation occurs in cement tanks. Aged 12 months in 25 hl oak casks. Aged 6 months in bottle.
2020
DOC Monreale “Catarratto” 2020
VARIETY : Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy soil, 600 meters in altitude, North-South exposure. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION :
Grapes destemmed, soft pressed.
Aged in concrete on lees for 18 months.
Aged in bottle for 4 months.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Anfora Bianco" 2020
VARIETY : Various indigenous grapes from the vineyard.
TERROIR :
Sandy soil, 600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION :
Grapes de-stemmed after cooling, maceration on skins in amphora. Aged for 6 months in amphora.
Aged in bottle for 6 months.
2019
IGP Terre Siciliane "Anfora Bianco" 2019
VARIETY : Various indigenous grapes from the vineyard.
TERROIR :
Sandy soil, 600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION :
Grapes de-stemmed after cooling, maceration on skins in amphora. Aged for 6 months in amphora.
Aged in bottle for 6 months.
DOC Sicilia “Grillo” 2019
VARIETY : Grillo
TERROIR :
70 year old vines, sandy soil, 600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION :
Destemming of the grapes after cooling, short maceration on skins, soft pressing.
Aged in cement tanks on lees for 6 months.
Aged in bottle for 4 months.
IGP Terre Siciliane “Luna Calante” 2019
VARIETY : Macerated Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy Soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Fermented with skin contact for 30 days, traditional vinification in open concrete vats at a room temperature of about 24 degrees, frequent hand-pressing over 24 hours. Soft pressing in hydraulic press. Aged for ten months in stainless steel tanks.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Catarratto" 2019
VARIETY : Catarratto
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION :
Six months in cement tanks
IGP Terre Siciliane "Saharay" 2017
VARIETY : Macerated Catarratto
TERROIR : Sandy Soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Catarratto bianco de-stemmed and fermented with a skin contact for 30 days in concrete vats at a controlled temperature, soft pressing in hydraulic press. Aged for twelve months in 25 hl oak casks. Aged in bottle 4-6 months.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Maqué" Rose 2019
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR :
Limestone
600 meters in altitude facing north-south.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION : Destemmed grapes, soft pressed into cement tanks on the lees for 3 months.
Aged 3 more months in bottle.
IGP Terre Siciliane "ARCAI Anfora Rosso" 2019
VARIETY : Estate’s indigenous varietals
TERROIR :
Sandy and clay soils.
600 meters in altitude facing north-south.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION : Grapes de-stemmed and cooled. Maceration in Amphora where malolactic fermentation occurs. Aged in Amphora 6 months and in bottle 6 months.
DOC Sicilia “Ishac” 2019
VARIETY : Nero d'Avola
TERROIR : 450 meters in altitude, North-South exposure, clay. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in early September
VINIFICATION :
Destemming after cooling.
Malolactic fermentation for 10-12 days in cement tanks. Aged in large casks for 12 months + 6 months in bottle.
2018
IGP Terre Siciliane "Ishac" 2018
VARIETY : Nero d'Avola
TERROIR :
Sandy soil
600 meters in altitude facing north-south.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION : Grapes are destemmed and fermented at a controlled cold temperature. Malolactic fermentation occurs in cement tanks. Aged 12 months in 25 hl oak casks. Aged 6 months in bottle.
IGP Terre Siciliane “Trebbi” 2018
VARIETY : Trebbiano
TERROIR :
Over 70 years old sapling vines in sandy soil. 600 meters in altitude, North-South exposure. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in September
VINIFICATION : Destemming of the grapes after cooling in cellar. Short maceration with skins.
Soft pressing and fermentation in steel tanks.
Aged in steel tanks on noble lees for 4-6 months.
Aged 4 months in bottle.
2017
IGP Terre Siciliane "Maqué" 2017
VARIETY :
60 % Nero d'Avola / 40 % Perricone
TERROIR :
Sandy soil / Limestone
600 meters in altitude facing north-south.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST :
hand picked in late September / early October
VINIFICATION : Grapes are destemmed and fermented at a controlled cold temperature. Malolactic fermentation occurs in cement tanks. Aged 12 months in cement tanks. Aged 6 months in bottle.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Perricone" 2017
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR :
Limestone
600 meters in altitude facing north-south.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST :
hand picked in early October
VINIFICATION : Grapes are destemmed and fermented at a controlled cold temperature. Malolactic fermentation occurs in cement tanks. Aged 12 months in 25 hl oak casks. Aged 6 months in bottle.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Saharay" 2017
VARIETY : Macerated Catarratto
TERROIR : Sandy Soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
Catarratto bianco fermented with a skin contact for 30 days in concrete vats at a controlled temperature, soft pressing in hydraulic press. Aged for twelve months in 25 hl oak casks.
2016
IGP Terre Siciliane "Ishac" 2016
VARIETY : Nero d'Avola
TERROIR : Porta del vento, extends for eighteen hectares on the hills of the territory of Camporeale in the province of Palermo, at about 600 meters of altitude, in the area of Alcamo doc and Monreale doc, of which fourteen are planted with vineyards. Sandy soils on sandstone crust. Vineyards are mainly cultivated with "alberello" system and are almost fifty years old, exposed to the north following the steep slopes of the land. Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked in early September
VINIFICATION :
Fermentation in cement tanks
Aging in large casks for at least twelve months.
IGP Terre Siciliane "Maqué" 2016
VARIETY :
Nero d'Avola / Perricone Rosé
TERROIR :
600m North of Palermo (Comporeal)
70 year old vines Sandstone, Calc bedrock Red Clay soil. Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : Hand picked in mid-October
VINIFICATION :
Fermented in stainless steel
IGP Terre Siciliane "Perricone" 2016
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR : Porta del vento, extends for eighteen hectares on the hills of the territory of Camporeale in the province of Palermo, at about 600 meters of altitude, in the area of Alcamo doc and Monreale doc, of which fourteen are planted with vineyards. Sandy soils on sandstone crust. Vineyards are mainly cultivated with "alberello" system and are almost fifty years old, exposed to the north following the steep slopes of the land. Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
8 days of skin contact
Fermentation in cement vats
Aged in large Slavonian oak casks for two years.
2011
IGP Terre Siciliane "Perricone" 2011
VARIETY : Perricone
TERROIR : Porta del vento, extends for eighteen hectares on the hills of the territory of Camporeale in the province of Palermo, at about 600 meters of altitude, in the area of Alcamo doc and Monreale doc, of which fourteen are planted with vineyards. Sandy soils on sandstone crust. Vineyards are mainly cultivated with "alberello" system and are almost fifty years old, exposed to the north following the steep slopes of the land. Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions. Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION :
8 days of skin contact
Fermentation in cement vats
Aged in large Slavonian oak casks for two years.
2006
IGP Terre Siciliane "Trebbiano" 2006
VARIETY : Trebbiano
TERROIR :
From Marco's very first vintage when he converted the domain to organic and biodynamic.
Sandy Soil
600 meters in altitude.
Extreme winds with strong thermal excursions.
70 year old vines.
Biodynamic and organic.
HARVEST : hand picked
VINIFICATION : 30 day maceration.