While "Premier Cru" is a term of French origin denoting vineyards classified as of the highest quality, it has also been embraced by other wine-producing countries to signify top-tier wines. Ansaldi, a family winery embodying tradition, innovation, and sustainability at the core of Sicilian winemaking, introduces us to its Premier Cru Ansaldi Bianco di Abbadessa in an endeavor to rejuvenate the historical identity and potential of the Marsala region. Guided by Giacomo, his wife Paola, and their children Giorgio and Edoardo, the winery merges time-honored techniques with cutting-edge technologies to accentuate the distinctive features and singular character of its terroir.
Crafted from the indigenous Grillo grape, Ansaldi Bianco di Abbadessa is a white wine whose vines, planted in 2002, hail from the remarkable vineyard situated 155 meters above sea level known as "Vigna Abbadessa". The soils are of medium texture, quite profound, distinguished by a thin layer of calcarenite. With a commitment to preserving and enhancing the terroir and its unique attributes, the cultivation is conducted with environmental consciousness. In the winery, the handpicked grapes are destemmed and undergo cold maceration for 5 hours. Subsequently, they are gently pressed, and the resulting juice ferments with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 14-18°C. Thereafter, the wine is aged for 12 months in stainless steel on fine lees, and finally, it matures for an additional 12 months in the bottle before being released to the market.
Ansaldi Bianco di Abbadessa is, undoubtedly, a homage to the Sicilian viticultural heritage and an invitation to discover and savor the authenticity and exceptional character of a unique Marsala terroir. A "Premier Cru" that promises to enchant with every sip.