Alessandro Viola Sinfonia di Rosso 2021

Alessandro Viola operates a 7-hectare estate near Alcamo in the province of Trapani, on Sicily's northwestern coast. A trained agronomist and oenologist with degrees in both disciplines, Viola gained experience across Italy—including stints in Piedmont and on Etna—before returning to his native Sicily in the late 1990s to focus on his family's land.

His timing coincided with a period when Sicilian winemaking leaned heavily on technology and synthetic inputs. Viola moved in the opposite direction, developing what he calls a "subtractive approach": removing interventions rather than adding them, letting nature guide the process. By the early 2000s, he had obtained organic certification, though his methods have always extended beyond the minimum requirements.

The estate comprises two vineyard sites: one in Pietra Rinosa at 220 meters elevation, another higher on Mount Bonifato reaching 400-700 meters. Plantings focus on indigenous varieties—Grillo, Catarratto, Nero d'Avola, and Nerello Mascalese—that Viola considers essential to expressing Sicilian terroir authentically. His brother Aldo Viola also makes wine in Alcamo, though the two work independently with distinct styles shaped by their different soil types and winemaking philosophies.

In the cellar, Viola ferments spontaneously with native yeasts and ages wines in a combination of stainless steel, fiberglass, and chestnut barrels depending on the cuvée. All wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal or no added sulfites. The Sinfonia di Rosso showcases his ability with Nerello Mascalese, a variety he sources locally rather than from Etna—a subtle distinction that gives the wine its own character.

Discover more from Alessandro Viola: Le Mie Origini Catarratto, Note di Bianco, and Sinfonia di Bianco. Browse our best-selling natural wines for more Sicilian producers.

Sicily, the Mediterranean's largest island, holds one of Italy's most ancient winemaking traditions—over 2,500 years of continuous viticulture. The island's sheer diversity makes it a world unto itself: coastal plains, volcanic slopes, mountainous interiors, and everything in between create dozens of distinct microclimates within a single region.

The western coast around Alcamo, where Alessandro Viola farms, differs markedly from the volcanic terrain of Etna. Here, the landscape rises from the Gulf of Castellammare into the hills surrounding Mount Bonifato, where limestone, sand, and clay soils dominate. Cool, humid sea breezes moderate the Mediterranean heat, extending the growing season and preserving acidity in the grapes—conditions that favor aromatic white varieties like Catarratto and Grillo, though red grapes including Nerello Mascalese also thrive.

The Alcamo DOC was historically dedicated to white wines, only expanding to include reds in 1999. This heritage reflects the area's natural affinity for fresh, mineral-driven styles rather than the powerful, sun-drenched reds Sicily is often known for. Vineyards in the Pietra Rinosa district climb to elevations between 220 and 700 meters, where altitude provides additional cooling and diurnal temperature variation.

Sicily's native grape varieties remain central to its identity. Nerello Mascalese, best known from Etna, produces wines of surprising elegance—pale in color, aromatic, with fine tannins often compared to Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo. Grown in western Sicily's clay soils rather than volcanic ash, the variety expresses differently: earthier, herbaceous, distinctly Mediterranean.

A growing community of natural winemakers has established Sicily as a destination for low-intervention wines, drawn by indigenous varieties, affordable land, and a climate that supports organic farming year-round.

Explore our Sicilian natural wine collection and discover more natural red wines from this dynamic island.