Principi di Butera
An ancient feudal domain nestled in a luxuriant and peaceful oasis in Sicily
About the winery
Principi di Butera, our state-of-the-art winery in Sicily, is steeped in a rich patchwork of history, tradition and extraordinary wines. Originally owned by the noble Branciforti and Lanza families, this area truly represents a crossroads of Mediterranean culture. After years of arduous restoration, the estate has been restored to its original splendour and its ancient watchtower now offers breathtaking views of the vineyards. Principi di Butera is an outstanding site for vines, where the coastal breezes nurture the local grape varieties, Nero d’Avola and Insolia, in order to make wines that are warm, intense and full of sunshine. The surface area planted with vines covers 170 of the Estate’s 320 hectares. Subsoil with layers of salts, gypsum and sulphur, deposited from the Miocene epoch onwards (6 million years ago), due to the evaporation of the waters of the Mediterranean sea.
Learn more about Principi di Butera and their facilities at:
Location
Sicily
History & Geography
Ambrogio Branciforte was the first Prince of Butera, appointed by the King of Spain. The site was chosen by the Zonin family in 1997 with the contribution of Franco Giacosa, one of the most highly skilled winemakers in Italy. It was chosen after 15 years of research and development of proprietary maps indicating the best areas in Sicily to grow Nero d’Avola. Thanks to the Zonin family the ancient ‘baglio’ has been completely restored, breathing new life into the ancient structure. The climate in Butera is mild with hot dry summers and rainfall of not more than 600 mm per year. Due to an altitude of between 300-350 metres above sea level, these hills benefit from broad fluctuations in day to night-time temperatures. The predominant winds come from the northeast (Greco) or east (Levante). In addition, there is constant air circulation due to breezes coming from the Mediterranean Sea.
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