Valdibella, Ariddu, Sicily, Italy

Who - Valdibella Cooperative
Where - Camporeale, Sicily, Italy 
What - White Wine - Grillo 
When - 2024
How - Organic, spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks and concrete, 4-6 months maturing on lees with battonage in steel, minimal sulphur/additions, vegan

If we're slightly obsessed with Sicily, you'll have to forgive us. This latest arrival from the very wonderful Valdibella cooperative is only feeding our obsession. Valdibella is a group of 10 growers who have set up this cooperative project, they are all organic farmers at the very least but the purpose of the project is to push all members towards biodiverse and regenerative agriculture. While the their main focus is on wine they embrace polyculture, partly to enhance biodiversity in their environment, and produce food - pasta, flour, almonds, oil and vegetables - with produce from their members. 

The word ‘Ariddu’ is the local name for the grape ‘Grillo’. It’s elegant and well balanced, delightfully delicate with a hint of herbs and a light touch of citrus. Grapes are handpicked and left on their skins overnight prior to fermentation, then pressed and fermentation happens naturally in steel tanks. The fermentation lasts for around 20 days, then aged for six months in stainless steel. Unfiltered and unfined.