01 May In the Glass and On the Ground – Four Wineries in Western Sicily

Last year, I wrote about my first taste of western Sicily’s wine scene. It was a trip that took me from Palermo to Marsala and introduced me to some of the island’s producers (read it here).

On my return to Sicily this past spring, I stayed in the west once again, this time discovering even more of what the region has to offer. I visited four new wineries, each with its own story, style, and sense of place. If you’re planning a visit to Western Sicily, these are four more producers worth adding to your list.

Gorghi Tondi: Vines Between Sea and Sanctuary

Driving west from Palermo, the terrain shifts quickly from gritty urban edges to wide-open agricultural land. At Gorghi Tondi, you find vineyards situated within a WWF nature reserve near Mazara del Vallo, just steps from the sea. The winery’s organic vineyards are planted among limestone sinkholes (“gorghi”) that create a unique microclimate, balancing sun, wind, and the salinity of the sea.

The winery began more than 100 years ago, but it was not until 2000 that the Sala family began bottling quality wines. Today, second-generation Annamaria and Clara Sala have taken over for their father Michele, and manage 320 acres of vineyards and olive oil groves.

Gorghi Tondi works with local grapes, such as Grillo, Zibibbo (ie. Muscat), Catarratto, Nero d’Avola, Frappato, Nerello Mescalese, and Perricone, as well as international varieties Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir. But Grillo is the star of the estate, making up 40% of the planting. It is the versatility of Grillo that allows it to be vinified in different ways, ranging from bright and saline to more textured, age-worthy bottlings.

Ansaldi: The Hidden Gem in Mazara del Vallo

Forty-five minutes north of Gorghi Tondi, Ansaldi is located on a hill north of Marsala. This family-run estate is something of a hidden gem. The Ansaldi family, consisting of Giacomo, Paola, and their son Giorgio, farms 20 hectares organically, working mostly with Nero d’Avola, Grillo, and Inzolia. Grapes are dry-farmed, and wines are made with minimal intervention, resulting in wines that are clean and pure. Their Grillo stood out for its round texture and subtle spice, and their Nero d’Avola was refreshingly restrained with bright cherry fruit and herb notes, and no overextraction or excess oak.

As an enologist, Giacomo is an archeologist of relic vines. He edited and published “Identity and Wealth of the Sicilian Vineyard,” which analyzes the biological diversity of all the vines grown in Sicily. In his own vineyard, he creates new crosses of vines. And in his winery, he has the biggest collection of perpetual wine in all of Marsala, ranging from before 1957 to 1998.

In addition to grape growing and winemaking, the family produces honey, marmalade, capers, almonds, olives, and olive oil. And they grow their own grain. In addition, they own a beautiful agritourism wine resort, Baglio Donna Franca.

Cantina Fina: Modern Sicily in Marsala

Just outside the historic port of Marsala, Cantina Fina sits on a hill in the city of Marsala and blends tradition with modern flair. The winery was founded in 2005 by Bruno Fina and his wife Mariella. While it’s relatively young, the Fina family has roots in Sicilian winemaking that stretch back generations. And today Bruno’s children Marco, Sergio, and Federica (Kika), share their father’s passion and commitment to the land.

With a mosaic of vineyards (both owned and managed) across varied landscapes (hillsides, mountainous areas, sea-level), Catina Fina produces native varieties, such as Perricone, Inzolia, and Grillo, as well as international varieties. The wines are focused, expressive, and grounded in Sicilian identity. A vertical tasting of their Grillo showed the grape’s ability to handle time in bottle, gaining structure and subtle spice while retaining that coastal brightness.

Terre di Gratia: Brothers with a Biodynamic Vision

High in the hills of Camporeale, brothers Giuseppe and Fulvio Di Francesco run Terre di Gratia, a certified organic and biodynamic estate that feels like a world away from the sea. The air here is cooler, and the wines reflect the altitude.

Terre di Gratia was founded in 1934, when the brothers’ great-grandfather Ciro Sciortino and his four sons bought the Torretta Estate. Ciro developed the vineyards and in 1950 his daughter Grazia married a young landowner named Rosario, also known as Sasà, and together they cultivated the 100 hectares.

Giuseppe and Fulvio focus on rare native varieties like Perricone and Catarratto, as well as intriguing bottlings of Syrah and Nero d’Avola. Their Catarratto “Kaṭà” is structured and textural, with a slightly oxidative character that recalls Jura whites. And their Perricone, once nearly extinct, is alive with dark red fruit, mountain herbs, and a faint iron-like minerality. Visiting here feels less like a tasting and more like a deep conversation about land, cycles, and intention.

Western Sicily continues to impress me. If you’re traveling west of Palermo or making your way to Marsala, these are four stops worth making. Even after two trips, there’s still more to explore and that includes other parts of Sicily which is where I am off to on my next trip!