Planeta

Planeta is Sicily, Sicily is Planeta

Planeta, a relatively young winery in Italy's rich wine tradition, began its story in the early 1990s. Alessio and Santi Planeta, along with their famous uncle Diego Planeta, planted the first vines in the regions of Menfi and Sambuca di Sicilia. Soon Francesca, Diego's daughter, joined them and they expanded their vineyards to Vittoria and Noto in southern Sicily. Later subsequent vineyards were also established on the fertile flanks of the Etna volcano.

Under the guidance of renowned oenologist Carlo Corino, the Planeta family planted both native and international grape varieties. In western Sicily, they are experimenting with Chardonnay, Viognier, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, while the native white grapes Fiano and Grecanico are also flourishing there. In Noto and Vittoria we find mainly local red grapes such as Nero d'Avola and Frappato, in addition to Moscato for the famous sweet Passito. On Etna, the Carricante shines, developing a unique flavor on the volcanic soils.

Planeta combines centuries-old Sicilian wine traditions with modern techniques and innovation, resulting in a diverse and high-quality range of wines that reflect the essence of Sicily.

Menfi

From the sea to the hills, to an altitude of 400 meters, the area of Menfi hosts the largest expanse of our vineyards: we cultivate more than 250 hectares and make precise choices to adapt our vines - both native and international - to the specificities of the individual terroirs.

Ulmo, Estate since 1694, total area 87 hectares

Our story began at Ulmo. In the 1980s, we planted our first vineyards around the 16th-century baglio that had always been in our family. This enchanting area full of memories marked the start of a new future. We started with international varieties like Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Franc and Syrah, and continued with traditional Sicilian varieties like Grecanico, Nero d'Avola and Grillo. In 1995, we built the first winery on Lake Arancio, surrounded by forests. The Iter Vitis Museum also originated here, with a "gathering field" of Sicilian and Georgian vines to honor Sicily's rich wine culture.

Dispensa, Estate since 1755, total area 141 hectares

The Dispensa estate, hidden among the hills of Menfi, is the heart of our activities. The Baglio houses the family homes and our production and administrative departments. This is where most of our production is located, with two wineries: one large and one smaller. In the small winery is Repertorio, the family cellar with our favorite labels and all the Planeta vintages. The library contains hundreds of books, from the 18th century to the present, on the history of vines and wine.

Monte Cirami, Estate since 2003, total area 31 hectares

With the 2022 harvest, they will take another step in our growth: a winery for high-quality red wines. We restored a historic building in Sambuca di Sicilia, 450 meters above sea level. The Monte Cirami winery is located on a hill overlooking Lake Arancio and the Straits of Sicily. Here concrete tanks are filled by conveyor belt or by gravity, with techniques to preserve the original characteristics of the grapes. Thanks to a careful redesign of the interior spaces, the winery combines traditional aesthetics with innovative production methods.

Vittoria

Vittoria has always been a place close to our family's history and long agricultural tradition: our grandparents always debated whether the wines here were better than in Menfi. We learned to recognize the scent of Cerasuolo di Vittoria from an early age, so it was natural for us to cross the southern coast of the island and produce it here, in the heart of its origins. The main characteristic of this soil is the texture of the red sand: this is the origin of the name Cerasuolo, which refers to the "cerasa," the cherry in Sicilian. Here, between the plateau and the sea, where summer temperatures are very high and precipitation very low, the vineyards intertwine with the ecosystem of the Mediterranean macchia.

Noto

In 1998 we founded our estate in the district that not coincidentally was always called "Buonivini". We were enthusiastic about the idea of discovering the oenological potential of this land, the cradle of Nero d'Avola, which after centuries of history remained almost unexplored in the present: here we faced the toughest and most beautiful challenge, to give a great Sicilian wine region back its identity and future.
The beauty of these hills, where vineyards stretch between fields of almond trees sloping toward the sea, has made us responsible for seeking the best integration into the landscape, with the least possible impact. Sustainability and hospitality in an informal atmosphere that respects nature have characterized this project from the very beginning, with the birth of the Invisible Cellar and the restoration of the Palmento and the Case Sparse.
The position of the gentle hills of Buonivini, the white calcareous soils, the influence of the crossing of the two seas, create the best conditions for the growth of the vines and the production of great wines. Here Nero d'Avola and Moscato grow alongside almonds, carob trees and olive trees, the symbolic plants of the Mediterranean environment.

Etna

In 2008, after a long search for the best land for our vineyards, we settled on the northern slope of Mount Etna, among the lava flows and forests around Passopisciaro: here we planted our Nerello and Carricante vineyards and, in 2012, the winery was also born. Etna's volcanic soils arise from the slow decomposition of lava rock, the abundant presence of ash emanating from the crater and organic material. They are rich in skeleton and minerals. The amount and size of the skeleton varies greatly on the different terraces, as does the depth of each bottom. In any case, fertility and complexity are the common characteristics of the different soils in our vineyards in the Etna region.

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