Mecori

Sebastiano and Serena Vinci, both Sicilians, met at university in northern Italy. While Serena is from Catania, Sebastiano is from Marsala, so he is very much a stranger in Muganazzi. He is known as ‘the oenologist with the hoe’ because he works his own 1.5 hectares of vineyard. According to local custom, winemakers should be in the winery, not in the vineyard.

Sebastiano and Serena are of the generation who believe that the quality of the wine is dependent upon the quality of grapes grown. This learning was reinforced in Sebastiano when he worked a vintage with Paolo De Marchi at Isole e Olena while still at university. The reputation Paolo built for this estate was based on the quality of his viticulture.

Perhaps because of this, Sebastiano farms his vineyard, which was planted in 1927, organically, and does not use any oak in the cellar. The site is 700 metres above sea level and north facing, so aromatics are the defining character of the site, and Sebastiano sets out to retain them during his winemaking.

The estate’s name means ‘my heart’ in Sicilian, as it is very much a passion project for this young couple. The wine is called ‘Duo’ as it is a blend of two varieties, 85% Nerello Mascalese and 15% Nerello Cappuccio and also references the duo’s work together. After fermentation in stainless steel, the wine remains on fine lees in tank until the June following the vintage. The wine is tight, pure, sinewy and vibrant. Tiny quantities are produced (between 3,000 and 7,000 bottles a year) and demand is high, in part due to the 2021 vintage, which won the ‘Best in Show’ medal for Italy at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards.

Buy Mecori wine below.