Gaetana Jacono, Proprietor & Winemaker |
Country of Origin: Italy
Location: Ragusa
People: Gaetana Jacono, Owner & Winemaker
Valle dell'Acate is located in the Bidini manor among the sinuous hills of the Dirillo valley. The wine estate is one of the most enterprising in southeastern Sicily, committed to the continuation and valorization of the ancient wine growing tradition of the province of Ragusa, in the famous triangle formed by Acate, Comiso and Vittoria.
The estate was founded by the Jacono family, which has been devoted to growing grapes and producing wine since the days when Vittoria was the most active center for wine export to France in the late 19th century.
On the foundation of this heritage, Valle dell'Acate specialized in the cultivation of the most prized endemic varieties, grown luxuriant in the land of the estate, and in the production of great wines, including Cerasuolo di Vttoria DOC, the pride of Sicilian wine production. The spirit of the estate lies in its interpretation of winemaking, where ancient traditions and nature form a deep combination that result in the extraordinary quality of its wines. Since then, this vocation has been protected and handed down over time, with a desire to perfect its production and make it known at an international level.
Today, the wine estate is run by Gaetana Jacono, representing the sixth generation. With the same love that tied her ancestors to the vines, along with marked entrepreneurial insight, Gaetana has devoted herself to the production of Sicilian DOC and IGT wines - a production that has earned great recognition, even on the international scene.
The estate covers over 100 hectares and a large part of it, from 2001 to today, has been replanted with the area's top varieties and with international varieties. Here, the soil - locally known as "Milaro" - is characterized by a particular substrate of calcareous sandstone, intertwined with packets of clay that allow the vines to produce high quality grapes.
Thanks to the nature of the place, the use of technologically advanced systems and the support of a century of experience, Valle dell'Acate is able to produce a range of prized, modern and radiant wines: the celebrated Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOC; the IGTs Moro, Frappato, Insolia, and Bidis, and the most recent, Tané, obtained by selecting the best bunches during the major harvest. This latter, the jewel of the production, is a new Nero d'Avola that embodies the estate's research into quality and its philosophy. This wine's important structure, its significant length, its deep red color and its strong personality are a compendium of the territory's tradition and winemaking culture. Valle dell'Acate wines have shown themselves to be an authentic expression of the history and character of this land.
From Gambero Rosso 2012
“Val di Noto has been considered one of the best wine areas
in Sicily since it was colonized by the Greeks, who probably introduced the
bush-training system still widely used in the area. The Jacono family estate,
with Tania as its driving force, has worked in the birthplace of Nero d’Avola
for six generations now. The winery continues to support native grape varieties
and promote the local area through the eco-sustainable production of fine
quality wines.”
From Wine Advocate 2/2013
"Valle dell’Acate’s lineup is full of reasonably priced wines full of
varietal and regional character. It is impossible to go wrong with any
of these flavorful offerings."
Media Links
The Boston Globe: The next generation of Sicilian winemakers |
