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Single site Sicilian range Mandrarossa makes it to Liberty Wines

Published:  21 February, 2019

Liberty Wines is swelling the ranks of its Sicilian portfolio with new producer,  Mandrarossa.

The Mandrarossa wines hail from some of the best sites in southwestern Sicily owned by coop Cantine Settesoli, which accounts for almost 5% of Sicilian vines.

Under Liberty’s guidance in the UK, they will be highlighting an increased focus on single site selection, taken from around 6,000 ha of vineyard, across 32 different grape varieties.

“We are very excited by the addition of these outstanding value Mandrarossa wines to our portfolio,” said Liberty managing director David Gleave MW.

“With a great record of environmental awareness, including one of the largest solar energy installations in the Italian winemaking sector which provides 15% of their power, we share many of their values. The Mandrarossa wines are their most impressive contribution to Sicilian wine.”

Gleave went on to praise Cantine Settesoli’s president Giuseppe Bursi, who - along with soil specialist Pedro Parra, consultant winemaker Alberto Antonini and head winemaker Mimmo De Gregorio - has been on a mission to drive up quality.

This includes mapping out the area’s best sites, which have been narrowed down to 500 hectares of vineyard for the Mandrarossa wines.

Native Sicilian varieties Nero d’Avola, Grillo, Grecanico and dry Zibibbo as well as international varieties like Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc all make appearances in the range.

Cantine Settesoli has been behind some of the major brands to gain international recognition over the years, including their flagship, Cartagho.

Of the move to Liberty from Enotria & Coe, Bursi said: “[It] reflects our quest for continual improvement. As a five-time winner of Gambero Rosso’s Tre Bicchieri, our Cartagho wine is already recognised as among Italy’s best, but as all the wines continue to improve, we feel we need to be working with people who understand our quality and environmental ethos.”

With the Mandrarossa range, the top wines are made from single sites covering 75 hectares from 37 growers, selected by Pedro’s vineyard mapping.

The 2018 white wines and 2017 reds will available from Liberty in early March.






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