From the magnificent Sicilian winery comes a passito of extraordinary territorial identity, capturing the mineral purity and maritime freshness of the Aeolian Islands
March 10, 2026 (Lipari) — Terraced vineyards that seem to brush the sea, supported by ancient dry‑stone walls of volcanic rock and rooted in sandy soils of pumice origin: it is from this enchanting landscape, in the heart of the Aeolian archipelago, that Tenuta di Castellaro’s Malvasia delle Lipari DOC is born, an expression of the very essence of Mediterranean heroic viticulture.
Covering 7,000 square metres, the Vigna Cappero on the south‑eastern side of Lipari, just 80 metres above sea level, hosts a perfect balance of the two native grape varieties that define the appellation: Malvasia delle Lipari (95%) and Corinto Nero (5%). This agricultural heritage has been revived through an important programme of massal selection carried out with the consultants of the historic French maison Pépinières Guillame, with the aim of preserving genetic biodiversity and enhancing the noblest traits of these ancestral varieties.
Harvesting is carried out exclusively by hand, in harmony with nature and tradition. “The Malvasia grapes are left to dry naturally in the sun for around fifteen days directly in the vineyard, on special racks,” explains Tenuta di Castellaro’s oenologist, Emiliano Falsini. “This process concentrates aromas, structure and territorial identity. The subsequent vinification, conducted with gentle pressing, allows the wine to develop refined complexity, followed by at least 18 months of bottle ageing.”
The result is a passito that transcends the conventional definition of a sweet wine. The nose reveals intense notes of ripe apricot, fig, elderflower and raisin, accompanied by elegant hints of Mediterranean scrub. On the palate, sweetness is balanced by a striking mineral freshness and vibrant maritime salinity, lending depth, harmony and remarkable drinkability.
“Our Malvasia delle Lipari reflects our commitment to protecting native grape varieties and promoting heroic viticulture,” emphasises Massimo Lentsch, founder of the Sicilian estate. “It is also the outcome of rigorous work in the vineyard and cellar, marked by careful selection, low yields and vinification choices aimed at preserving balance and aromatic precision. It is a project that requires time, technical expertise and meticulous management of every production phase, from harvest to ageing.”
Tenuta di Castellaro’s Malvasia delle Lipari DOC thus presents itself as a true “nectar of the gods”, capable of enveloping with its sweetness and surprising with its freshness, telling in every sip the story of the wind, the sunlight and the volcanic soul of the Aeolian Islands.
About Tenuta di Castellaro
Where the sun sets steeply into the sea, and the ancient tradition of alberello vine cultivation lives on. Rising from volcanic soil, Tenuta di Castellaro is a monument to nature, culture, and architecture. This wine project, deeply rooted in the historical and scenic heritage of the area, tells the story of a unique land: Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian Islands. The estate encompasses 24 hectares of vineyards, producing around 70,000 bottles a year, and includes a state-of-the-art winery, a wine resort, and the geomineral park of the Kaolin Quarries, which has been cleaned and restored for public use. Tenuta di Castellaro is a truly unique and multifaceted reality, guided by a natural approach to viticulture, strictly following organic and vegan protocols. The untamed beauty of this remote, pristine, and magnetic corner of the world captivated the Lentsch family from Bergamo, who in 2005 embarked on an ambitious winemaking and landscape project: to preserve, enhance, and share the beauty of this extraordinary place. Their mission: to protect its traditions and unique features, and to create wines from indigenous island grapes, starting with Malvasia delle Lipari and Corinto Nero, true expressions of the territory, bottled as its purest essence.
