When veteran Sicilian winemaker Angelo Paterno first walked the hill once known as Poggio dei Fossi, he called it one of the best viticultural sites he had seen on the island. He bought 60 hectares of it. Today his daughters, Marilina and Federica, run the estate that bears the family's organic, minimal-intervention vision.
Backstory
Angelo Paterno spent 25 years as winemaker and technical director for major Sicilian houses, first Cantine Settesoli and then Duca di Salaparuta, before buying the Pachino hilltop in 2000. He founded Cantina Marilina in 2001. His daughters Marilina and Federica now lead the winery, with Angelo still lending a hand in the cellar.
The Region
The estate lies in the far southeast of Sicily, near Pachino in the province of Siracusa and close to the baroque town of Noto. This is a hot, sun-soaked corner of the island, tempered by Mediterranean breezes, long associated with deeply colored Nero d'Avola.
Vineyards & Farming
The Paterno family farms 60 hectares organically, with an absolute respect for the land at the center of their philosophy. Their hands-off approach was shaped in part by Frank Cornelissen, the Belgian winemaker on Mount Etna whose work influenced a generation of Sicilian natural producers. The grapes are hand-harvested.
Winemaking
In the cellar the sisters intervene as little as possible. White and orange wines see a brief skin maceration of around 13 hours before spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in concrete tanks. The wines then age about six months in concrete and a further three months in bottle. The wines are both organic and vegan.
The Wines
The range highlights Sicily's native grapes. "Sikele" is a skin-contact orange wine from Grecanico, while "Fedelie" is a sparkling frizzante bianco. Reds built around Nero d'Avola complete the lineup, all reflecting the warm Pachino terroir and the family's clean, low-intervention style.
