Tenuta Vasari

The Vasari family has been crafting wine in Santa Lucia del Mela since 1628. That's nearly 400 years of history rooted in the hills overlooking the Mela River valley, in the province of Messina. This isn't just another Sicilian winery. It's a living connection to one of the oldest wine traditions in the world.

A terroir shaped by history

The estate sits at around 250 to 300 meters above sea level, with vineyards facing north-northwest. The soils here are medium-textured with a good dose of clay, perfect for producing concentrated, structured wines. From the cellar, you can see the Aeolian Islands floating in the distance and the promontory of Capo Milazzo stretching into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Vasari family tends about 20 hectares of vines, along with olive groves and citrus orchards. Everything is certified organic, and has been since 1990. The estate still houses an old cellar from the 1700s, now a museum, while a modern facility handles today's production with over 1,500 hectoliters of capacity. The Vasari family rediscovered Mamertino DOC over 40 years ago, becoming the first to bring this ancient wine back to modern tables. Mamertino dates back to 289 BC, when the Mamertini people settled in the area. Julius Caesar himself drank it to celebrate his third consulship in 46 BC. That's the kind of heritage you can taste in every bottle.

Winemaking with respect and precision

The Vasari family works generation after generation, balancing tradition with a forward-looking approach. They practice short pruning to keep yields low, around 40 to 60 hectoliters per hectare. This means fewer grapes per vine, but much better quality. The vines are treated with natural methods, no chemicals, no shortcuts. The family focuses exclusively on indigenous Sicilian varieties. For whites, that means Grillo, Inzolia, and Catarratto. For reds, it's Nero d'Avola and Nocera. Nocera is particularly rare, grown almost exclusively in the Messina area. It's a grape with structure and complexity, offering notes of spice and red fruit. The organic certification isn't just a label here. It's a philosophy. The Vasari family knows every single vineyard, every corner of their land. That attention to detail allows them to craft wines that truly express the terroir. In 2013, their Mamertino DOC was ranked among the top 100 Italian wines by Papillon, a recognition that speaks to their dedication and skill.

The wines of Tenuta Vasari

Tenuta Vasari produces a range of Mamertino DOC wines, both white and red, along with a rosé. The white Mamertino blends Catarratto, Inzolia, and Grillo, delivering fresh, aromatic wines with a pleasant minerality. The red Mamertino combines Nero d'Avola and Nocera, offering rich color, intense fruit, and a savory, structured palate. There's also a 100% Nero d'Avola bottling, showcasing the power and depth of this iconic Sicilian grape. The Nocera in purezza is a standout, a rare expression of this local variety that few producers dare to bottle on its own. The wines are rich in color and concentration, with intense aromas of Mediterranean scrub and ripe fruit. They're wines that tell a story, connecting you to a place and a history that stretches back millennia. Whether you're exploring their entry-level offerings or their reserve wines, you're tasting the result of centuries of knowledge, passed down through the Vasari family with care and passion.