A symbol of the volcanic terroir, composed of 90% Corinto Nero, this wine embodies the Sicilian winery’s mission to preserve the traditions and unique characteristics of the region
Lipari (Aeolian Islands – Sicily), December 2nd 2024 – An ancient native variety, a clear intent to perpetuate the millenary winemaking tradition of Lipari, and the vision of creating the first true “classic red of the Aeolian Islands”: this is how Nero Ossidiana was born, one of the signature wines of Tenuta di Castellaro, named after obsidian, the intensely black volcanic rock that characterizes the Aeolian landscape.
Sun, stone, wind, earth, and sea: these elements and more are encapsulated in the organic wines of Castellaro. Born from the volcanic and Mediterranean terroir of Lipari and from the indigenous grape varieties of the Aeolian Islands, these wines express the essence of their origin. Corinto Nero is an ancient variety thought to have been introduced to Sicily by the Greeks. Over centuries, it adapted to the climate and soil of the Sicilian islands, thriving in the ideal conditions provided by the proximity to the sea and the mineral-rich volcanic soils.
“With the consultants from the French nursery Pépinières Guillaume,” says Massimo Lentsch, who founded the winery on the island of Lipari in 2005, “we conducted a mass selection of this indigenous variety, Corinto Nero, along with Malvasia delle Lipari, in vineyards across the Aeolian Islands.”
The vines were propagated from scions (vine cuttings) chosen from a vineyard with diverse DNA to maintain the greatest genetic variability within the same grape variety, resulting in plants with differing physiological and productive characteristics. Thanks to this recovery effort, Tenuta di Castellaro holds the national primacy in cultivating Corinto Nero, a low-yield variety that is particularly challenging to manage agronomically.
Present since the winery’s first harvest in 2008, Nero Ossidiana – a blend of Corinto Nero with 10% Nero d’Avola – boasts a deep ruby red color. “It is a complex, structured wine,” explains Emiliano Falsini, Tenuta di Castellaro’s winemaker. “It stands out for its saline notes and spicy tones, as well as its strong and decisive character. The wine balances the acidity and elegance of Corinto Nero with the soft warmth of Nero d’Avola, fully expressing the unique typicity of a land that is both volcanic and maritime. It enologically represents the union of the island and the sea.”
Tenuta di Castellaro
Where the sun sets over the sea and the millenary tradition of bush-trained vines endures, Tenuta di Castellaro rises on volcanic soil as a monument to nature, culture, and architecture. This winemaking project, deeply tied to the historical and landscape heritage of the region, tells the story of Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian Islands.With 24 hectares of vineyards producing about 70,000 bottles annually, a cutting-edge modern winery, a wine resort, and the geo-mineral park of the Kaolin Quarries (restored and made accessible to the community), Tenuta di Castellaro is a unique and multifaceted reality. Its approach to viticulture has always been natural, adhering to organic and vegan protocols. The wild allure of this untouched, remote, and magnetic corner of the world captivated the Lentsch family from Bergamo, who in 2005 embarked on an ambitious winemaking and landscape project.
Their goal: to preserve, enhance, and share the beauty of this place, safeguarding its traditions and peculiarities. With wines crafted from native island grapes—such as Malvasia delle Lipari and Corinto Nero—they create a pure expression of the territory.
