S.R.C. Vini

Italy / sicily

Producer Info

So named after the local, Catanese family of (daughter) Sandra, Rosario (Rori) & his wife Cinzia Parasiliti – esSeRCi! – SRC Vini is a brand new producer on Sicilia’s Monte Etna. In 2013 Cinzia & Rori Parasiliti were inspired to buy a small vineyard by their old family friend, Alberto Aiello Graci, whose cantina they had visited in 2010. In fact, Rori gave his wife the first 0.5ha of contrada Crasà in the village of Solicchiata/Castiglione di Sicilia as a present; so pleased was she that he promptly bought the other 0.5ha to complete the vineyard! Rori & Cinzia then set about making the vintage 2013, 2014 & 2015 wines in a garage close their vineyards.

Meanwhile they enlarged the property, buying the contradas of Calderara, Rivaggi & Pirao in Randazzo, plus Barbabecchi in Castiglione di Sicilia, taking it to 8ha. The vineyards range in altitude from between 600m – 1000m asl, on the sought after north-west facing slopes of the volcano, on ancient, fertile lava & more recent, less fertile (1981!) magma flows; key is the ginestra/bloom that breaks down the rocks with their roots! Rori is meticulous in the vineyard, that have been organic since acquired, but now seeking certification. Rori uses no chemical treatments whatsoever. There is no smog, no pollution, just the pure mountain air, and the mineral rich soils, lending themselves perfectly to organic agriculture, and creating an environment so rich in biodiversity that the plants appear to be naturally disease resistant. Vine age of the free-standing alberello Nerello Mascalese & Granaccia plants is circa 80 years old, while VSP/spalliera rows are of younger vines (for the Rosato & Bianco). They also grow some Minnella, Catarratto & Carricante for the Rosato & Bianco.

In 2016 they built a new cantina, installing new cement instead of many of the stainless tanks, which Rori would prefer not to use so much; tonneaux being replaced with botti grandi. Fermentations of the reds are in round plastic open tubs, with approx. 15 days on the skins, followed by malo in stainless-steel or cement. Their ‘SRC’ (from vintage 2017 ‘Etna Rosso’) is vinified solely in cement, as is their top Nerello Mascalese wine ‘Alberello’; ‘Rivaggi’, a blend of Nerello Mascalese & (20%) Granaccia sees stainless-steel & 2 months in used 500-700litre tonneaux. They also make a Bianco & original Rosato, a historic blend of 70% Nerello Mascalese & 30% Minella, Catarratto & Carricante! They currently make 18k bottles from 8ha, thanks to naturally low yields of circa 15HL/ha, hence average production/wine: c. 1.3k bts of Rosato, 1k bts Bianco, 10k bts of SRC, 1.9k bts of Rivaggi, & 1.9k bts of Alberello. There is also a new tasting room above the cantina which is light and spacious, with a sparkling new professional kitchen (!), panoramic views towards Etna in the South and the Nebbrodi mountains in the North, and Cinzia’s artwork bringing a touch femininity and creativity to the walls (as well as to the SRC labels!)

And thanks to the fastidious work in the vineyard – Rori has a team of 4 people – the wine is bottled with approx. 65mg of total sulphur, or c. 10 mg free, so keeping them fresh & precise… & helped along by Francesco Versio, their new consultant.

 

 

 

 

Wines

Rosato

Etna Bianco

Bianco Pirao

Etna Rosso

‘Rivaggi’

‘Alberello’