NERI CONTRADA ARRIGO-Sicily-(Mount Etna)

“For over a century we have been operating on this territory inspired by art and innovation but always faithful to tradition.”-Salvo Neri

The Neri family have lived on the foot of Mount Etna for over a century. During the early 1900’s, cavalier Vincenzo, emigrated to America with his brother, a tenor who sang the Italian operas in the New York’s theaters. When Vincenzo came back to Linguaglossa from America, he had no doubt: his future will be strictly linked to Etna. And then, with the huge fortune achieved overseas, he decided to invest in purchasing some lands on which to start his agricultural activity.
The family, now in its fourth generation, has been faithful to the plan of the great grandfather by handing down from father to son the love for these volcanic, black and fertile lands, also in the methodology of cultivating the land.

The Neri family’s lands are located on the North-East side of Mount Etna, in the territory of Linguaglossa, situated at about 550 mt a.s.l., between contrada Arrigo and Borrigliona, on a total surface of 9 hectares, 5 of them cultivated with vineyards and 4 with olive trees. The territory has a complex character thanks to a soil of volcanic origin with an important mineral component.
In this unique place there are indigenous red grape varieties such as Nerello Mascalese and white grapes such as Carricante and Catarratto.
Respecting the territory, they decided to implement a non-intensive organic agriculture, in addition to maintaining the manual harvesting of grapes, as it was once done.