CLASSIFICATION: FARO – Controlled Denomination of Origin.
PRODUCTION AREA: village of Faro Superiore – Messina, North – Eastern Sicily.
ALTITUDE: 250 – 300 metres above sea level.
VARIETY: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Nocera.
FARM SYSTEM: The oldest vines are 80 years old and planted in Alberello style, the younger are 10 years old, trained in espalier system.
DENSITY OF PLANTING: 5000 vines / hectare.
SOIL TYPE: medium mixture characterized by layers of clay and tuff calcrete.
FARMING METHOD: organic substances, such as green manure of legume are annually introduced into the soil; careful early pruning is carried out to possibly avoid or decrease antiparasitic treatment based on low doses of copper and sulphur; excess bunches of grapes are thinned out where necessary.
YIELD PER HECTARE: 60 Q.li
HARVEST: manual harvesting of the grapes between the first and second decade of October.
WINE-MAKING: traditional red, long steeping of the skins for about 20 days at a temperature with frequent manual mixins.
AGING: about 24 months in oak barrels, ten months in bottle.
PRODUCTION: about 7000 bottles.