Alex's Notes on Feudi del Pisciotto
There are never enough hours in the day, but I frequently feel I should be drinking more Sicilian red!
If you are planning a trip to Sicily, this spectacular estate has rooms and a renowned restaurant. Travel News lists it as one of the top 10 most beautiful hotels in Italy.
Be warned - you may well find me there too....
TL;DR
Feudi del Pisciotto is a 40-hectare property on the edge of the Sughereta di Niscemi Nature Reserve in south-eastern Sicily.
Their reds are wonderfully well-balanced and rarely above 13% alcohol.
One of Sicily's oldest estates, Feudi del Pisciotto produces extremely high quality entry-level wines, but also wines that have won multiple awards and are included in Wine Spectator's Top 100.
Sicilian Reds
Despite Sicily’s heat, many of its regions enjoy some/a lot of altitude, meaning cooler nights and moderating breezes that help to preserve acidity and limit sugar accumulation - the former largely responsible for freshness and vibrancy while the latter for keeping alcohol modest.
On top of this, many Sicilian winemakers prize finesse, food affinity, and drinkability. Their soils – particularly their volcanic soils – contribute to the mineral tension found in many of Sicily’s wines.
A holiday in Sicily is especially wonderful for oenophiles. Whilst, there are bold, richer, quite alcoholic Sicilian reds - often more suitable for drinking by a fire than a beach - there is also such a great choice of refreshing and elegant reds like those from Feudi del Pisciotto.
Terroir
Whilst only a few kilometres from the sea, Feudi del Pisciotto's vineyards are at a relatively low 250 metres of altitude.
Consequently, they told me that they have to work very hard to manage the vine’s canopy so that the grapes do not accumulate too much sugar (or get frazzled in the sun).
Their proximity to the nature reserve also means that they benefit from a landscape rich in biodiversity and clean air. The surrounding cork-oak woodland creates a naturally balanced ecosystem that supports healthy vines, reduces the need for intervention, and anchors the estate’s commitment to working in harmony with its environment.
Winemakers & Ethos
Feudi del Pisciotto is the Sicilian estate of Domini Castellare di Castellina (DCC), a group founded and led by Paolo Panerai.
The wines are made by Alessandro Cellai who was a protégé of the late Giacomo Tachis, Italy’s most influential modern oenologist.
The estate’s stated creed is quality with naturalness and sustainability and the winery marries a modern facility with the restored historic palmento, symbolizing the “old + new” approach.
Sustainability
At Feudi del Pisciotto sustainability underpins both vineyard and cellar practice. They take a conscientious approach to terroir, environment, and long-term viticultural health.
Their location beside the Sughereta di Niscemi Nature Reserve and just a few kilometres from the sea, means that the vineyards benefit from natural moderating factors (altitude + sea breezes) that reduce vine stress and allow for lower-intervention viticulture. The soil also benefits from biodiversity.
The estate’s restored historic palmento sits alongside a modern cellar, a design that honours heritage while also reducing pump-use and energy demand through gravity-fed flows.
#WineObsessed
Italy: Feudi del Pisciotto - Frappato 2024, Niscemi, Sicily
