Sicilian Summer Favorites from Mortellito in the Val di Noto!
7/30/25 -
Calling all fans of Cornelissen, Occhipinti, Lamoresca, and COS! Dario Serrentino of Mortellito is a farmer first, having worked with almond and olive crops before venturing into wine and works exclusively on generational land. The grapes he farmed on this land were sold to Frank Cornelissen and Lamoresca first, before starting the 'Mortellito' label in 2014.
Even though these wines are designated as IGT Terre Siciliane, Mortellito sits in the Val di Noto. This DOC is in the South East corner of Sicily based around the beautiful Baroque city of Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, I’d like to draw attention to this sub-region’s special geology with the broader intention of highlighting Italy's patchwork of unique subregions with indigenous grapes that haven’t gotten their flowers yet in the US market.
The climate is an arid desert landscape right on the coast or as Dario calls it ‘a desert next to the beach’. The rocky white limestone and karst soils coax vitality and vibrancy out of Grillo, Cataratto, Frappato, Nero D’Avola, and Moscato. This region sits on the Hyblean Plateau which was formed somewhere between 7-11 million years ago upon the collision of the African and European continents. The limestone and suboceanic material unearthed during this collision forms the very terroir and flavor compounds in the wine today!
Dario only ferments with native yeast, his family’s land has been organic for decades, and none of his wines are aged in wood. “Mare e terra in vino” is Dario’s philosophy, further showcasing his dedication to clean, vibrant, fruit and minerality focused wines.
The wines featured today, Cala Iancu Bianco and Cala Niuru Rosso, are bursting with personality: the combination of limestone soils, proximity to both the sea and the desert, and the singular character of native grapes is a magical combination. Click 'View the Wines' below to read more about each wine. I cannot wait to see what Mortellito does in the next 10-20 years and beyond!
-Marisa Licandro
