Impressive what the brothers Gianfranco, Salvatore, and Roberto Lombardo have achieved at the eponymous winery, which they took over from their father in the 1990s as the second generation. "And we continue to grow," says Gianfranco Lombardo.
Since then, the brothers have been able to acquire an additional five hectares with promising potential, in addition to the existing 30 hectares. In total, this corresponds to an annual production of around 180,000 bottles, with an upward trend, as mentioned. "But it's not about quantity for us," emphasizes Gianfranco Lombardo, "we only work with our own grapes and want to control, carry out, and monitor every step of the process ourselves," the agronomist clarifies. This became particularly clear in 2016 when they presented their first sparkling wine made using the Charmat method (processed in an autoclave, i.e., a pressure tank). Until then, this was a rather neglected topic in the region, but a success for the Lombardos. Not only because sparkling wine consumption has increased worldwide, but also because certain limestone and marl soils are ideal for this type of winemaking and for the development of the grape varieties (Catarratto and Nero d’Avola). Their latest venture: a traditional sparkling wine fermented in the bottle. A perfect fit for the demanding gastronomy in Sicily.
While Gianfranco manages the winery and administration, Salvatore takes care of the vines and their cultivation, and Roberto handles the cellar work up to bottling. "The aging in the bottle is also important to us," says Gianfranco. Their attention to precision is evident not only in their wines but also in the meticulous documentation of each step. These are neatly listed for every wine on their website. Anyone wanting to experience the complete work of art can boldly arrange a visit. The beautiful winery (Sua Altezza) is located in the center of Sicily (or, for archaeological nerds, on the route between the sites in Taormina and Agrigento). The name hints at and expresses this: the Lombardo brothers' vineyards are far from the sea, situated at an altitude between 550 and 650 meters above sea level. Cool nights and warm days are exactly what the grapes need to ripen optimally and slowly and to develop complex flavors.
The focus of production is on two lines: D’Altura, which stands for single-varietal wines from high altitudes, and the Unànime line. The latter represents both a red wine blend from the grape varieties Nero d’Avola, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, and the white Unànime blend, made from Grillo, Moscato, and Catarratto grapes. Over the years, the Lombardo brothers have especially made a name for themselves with the latter and have gradually become the leading Catarratto specialists in Sicily. Thus, the fresh southern summer in the glass is guaranteed.
