The island of Sicily is home to the Tasca d’Almerita family of estates: Regaleali, Capofaro, and Whitaker. The Regaleali estate is at the heart of the family’s wine production, and also serves as an escape from the bustle of the coastal capital of Palermo. In 2002, the family purchased vineyards on the small island of Salina to create Tenuta Capofaro, which produces elegant sweet wines with high acidity yet fresh balance throughout. The Whitaker estate consists of vineyards originally planted by the English family of the same name in the 19th century. As a result of Count Giuseppe’s hard work and dedication over the past 50 years, all the wines of Tasca d’Almerita are celebrated worldwide for their outstanding value and prestigious history. Count Giuseppe’s son, Count Lucio, is president of the family-run winery, and his two sons, Giuseppe and Alberto, serve as vice president and managing director, respectively. In addition to the wines, the estate is practically self sufficient, producing most of the vegetables, fruits, wheat, olives, cheeses and meats they need. This inspired Marchesa Anna Tasca Lanza, Count Lucio’s sister, to establish a culinary school, considered one of the best in Italy today. The school has inspired culinary professionals from around the world, including Julia Child and Alice Waters. In addition, Anna has introduced hundreds more to the art of Sicilian cuisine through her cookbooks, Heart of Sicily: Recipes and Reminiscences of Regaleali, a Country Estate and The Flavors of Sicily: Stories, Traditions, and Recipes for Warm-Weather Cooking. While the history of Tasca d’Almerita dates back to the 19th century, it was Count Giuseppe Tasca who started a new era for the winery and the Sicilian wine business in the late 1950s, devoting himself to the promotion of Sicilian wines and introducing a new business model based on quality and innovation rather than quantity and bulk production. He invented the winery’s two flagship wines: Rosso del Conte and Nozze d’Oro. Location of Vineyards Located in the mountainous heart of Sicily, Tenuta Regaleali is a world unto itself: a vast estate owned by the Tasca d’Almerita family since 1837 and best known for its fine wines and its internationally recognized cooking school. Tenuta Capofaro - Located on the small island of Salina, known for its northerly winds and rich volcanic soils. The Whitaker estate - Located in western Sicily, takes advantage of a coastal ecosystem well suited to the production of white wines with typical Mediterranean floral notes. Winemaking Philosophy Since the family owns and produces wines from five different estates, the winemaking process for each is varied according to each estate’s unique terroir and the diverse planting, growing and harvesting conditions its grapes require. Tasca d’Almerita employs both traditional and contemporary winemaking techniques with the latest technological innovations to produce wines with terrific balance and character. Their Rosso del Conte, created in the early 1970s, elevated the quality of the native Nero d’Avola grape through the use of modern winemaking techniques. It is considered the father of modern Sicilian high-end reds.

An ancient grape variety, a cross between Moscato and Catarratto, results in a wine with a concentrated and complex aroma. It’s cultivated at Regaleali on the hills next to Case Vecchie. Produce it by blending grapes from different harvest times: the part from the early harvest, for freshness and hints of mineral; the part from the later harvest gives it structure.