Tasca d'Almerita

Tasca d'Almerita's story began in 1830 when brothers Lucio and Carmelo Mastrogiovanni Tasca purchased the Regaleali estate in the Sicilian hinterland near Sclafani. The property was already recognised as a model farm in the 1854 Sicilian agricultural annual, though grains and fodder dominated the land at that time. The decisive shift toward quality viticulture came in 1959 when Count Giuseppe Tasca planted the San Lucio vineyard with Nero d'Avola and Perricone using the traditional gobelet (alberello) system. From those vines came the 1970 Riserva del Conte, later renamed Rosso del Conte, the first single-vineyard wine ever produced in Sicily. Alberto Tasca, eighth-generation family member and CEO since 2001, subsequently expanded the portfolio to four additional estates, positioning the house as both guardian of Sicilian heritage and champion of multi-terroir exploration.

• Founded 1830 by Lucio and Carmelo Mastrogiovanni Tasca at Regaleali; eight generations of continuous family stewardship
• Recognised as a model farm in the 1854 Sicilian agricultural annual; grains and fodder preceded a full focus on viticulture
• San Lucio vineyard planted 1959 with Nero d'Avola and Perricone in gobelet training; became the source of Rosso del Conte
• Rosso del Conte first sold as the 1970 vintage, marking Sicily's first single-vineyard wine and establishing the island's quality credentials

From around the year 2000, Alberto Tasca extended the family name to four additional Sicilian wine regions, creating a portfolio that spans the island's most compelling viticultural zones. Regaleali anchors the house at 450–850m in the Palermo highlands within the Contea di Sclafani DOC, ideal for freshness in Nero d'Avola and a broad range of indigenous varieties. Capofaro, acquired in 2001, sits on the volcanic Aeolian island of Salina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where old-vine Malvasia delle Lipari thrives above the sea. Tascante, launched in 2007 on Etna's northern slopes between Castiglione di Sicilia and Randazzo, specialises in Nerello Mascalese from terraced volcanic vineyards at 550–770m. Tenuta Whitaker, a partnership with the Whitaker Foundation from 2007, stewards 12 hectares of historic Grillo on the Phoenician island of Mozia. Sallier de La Tour, in the Monreale DOC near Palermo, focuses on Syrah, which thrives in its sandy, clay-rich soils.

• Regaleali: nearly 600 hectares, 382 under vine, 12 soil types, 6 hills, 450–850m; Contea di Sclafani DOC; 25 varieties planted
• Capofaro (Salina, Aeolian Islands): UNESCO World Heritage Site; acquired 2001; old-vine Malvasia delle Lipari; both dry Didyme and passito Capofaro produced
• Tascante (Mount Etna north slope): project founded 2007; 14 hectares at 550–770m on volcanic basalt-lava soils; first vintage 2008; Nerello Mascalese specialist
• Whitaker (Mozia island): Whitaker Foundation partnership from 2007; 12 hectares of historic Grillo; Sallier de La Tour (Monreale DOC): Syrah as primary focus

Regaleali's nearly 600 total hectares encompass 12 distinct soil types spread across six hills, creating a mosaic of microclimates that supports 25 different grape varieties across 382 hectares of vine. The 450–850m elevation range generates marked diurnal temperature swings, preserving natural acidity unusual for a warm Mediterranean location. At Tascante on Etna, steep lava-soil terraces at 550–770m enforce slow, late ripening and small yields; the same vineyard may require three separate harvest passes. Capofaro's volcanic pumice and ash soils on Salina impart a signature briny minerality to Malvasia. Whitaker's sandy, sea-influenced soils near the Marsala saltpans give the estate's Grillo a distinctive saline freshness. Across all estates, Tasca employs minimal-intervention winemaking, with the philosophy of preserving individual varietal character guided by head winemaker Laura Orsi, who has been based at Regaleali since 2004.

• Regaleali: 382 vineyard hectares, 12 soil types, 6 hills, 450–850m elevation; diurnal temperature swings preserve acidity in a warm climate
• Tascante (Etna north slope): steep lava terraces at 550–770m; slow late ripening; up to three harvest passes per vineyard per season
• Capofaro (Salina): volcanic pumice and ash soils impart briny minerality; Whitaker (Mozia): sandy sea-influenced soils suit Grillo
• Minimal-intervention winemaking philosophy across all estates; Laura Orsi appointed head winemaker of all Tasca estates in 2004

Rosso del Conte is the house icon, a reserve blend of Nero d'Avola and Perricone from the San Lucio vineyard planted in 1959, aged in French oak for 18 months. It is rated among the top five wines of the Contea di Sclafani DOC and demonstrates significant aging capacity. Nozze d'Oro, created by Count Giuseppe Tasca to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary, blends Inzolia with Sauvignon Tasca, a Sauvignon Blanc clone. Tascante's range includes Ghiaia Nera (the entry Nerello Mascalese from younger Etna vines) and the single-contrada releases Pianodario, Rampante, and Sciaranuova, each expressing a distinct volcanic sub-zone. Capofaro produces the dry Didyme from 100 percent Malvasia delle Lipari grown on vines dating to 1961, and the sweet passito Capofaro. Tenuta Whitaker's Mozia Grillo is a mineral-driven white from the island's historic Grillo vineyards. Sallier de La Tour's La Monaca is a varietal Syrah from the Monreale DOC.

• Rosso del Conte: Nero d'Avola and Perricone blend from the 1959 San Lucio vineyard; 18 months French oak aging; icon since the 1970 vintage
• Nozze d'Oro: Inzolia and Sauvignon Tasca blend; created to mark Count Giuseppe's 50th wedding anniversary; consistently earns high critical scores
• Tascante range: entry Ghiaia Nera plus single-contrada Pianodario, Rampante, and Sciaranuova; all 100 percent Nerello Mascalese from volcanic Etna terroir
• Capofaro produces dry Didyme (100% Malvasia delle Lipari, vines from 1961) and sweet passito Capofaro; Whitaker produces Mozia Grillo; Sallier de La Tour features La Monaca Syrah

Tasca d'Almerita wines are defined by restraint, varietal clarity, and terroir expression rather than extraction or overripeness. Rosso del Conte's Nero d'Avola and Perricone combination delivers lifted cherry, Mediterranean scrub, and tobacco aromatics with structured, age-worthy tannins; the wine requires several years of cellaring to integrate fully. Nerello Mascalese from Tascante shows the pale ruby colour, high-toned red fruit, volcanic mineral texture, and fine-grained tannins associated with Etna's northern slopes. Didyme Malvasia from Capofaro is a dry, aromatic white with stone fruit, citrus, white floral, and briny saline notes. Nozze d'Oro offers citrus and stone-fruit complexity with lees-influenced texture. Across the portfolio, head winemaker Laura Orsi's approach prioritises the grapes themselves, using both traditional and contemporary cellar techniques to preserve the distinctive character of each estate's terroir.

• Rosso del Conte: cherry, scrub, tobacco aromatics; structured Perricone-Nero d'Avola tannins; significant cellaring potential; among the top five Contea di Sclafani wines
• Nerello Mascalese (Tascante): pale ruby, red fruit, volcanic mineral texture, fine tannins; elegance over power; comparable structure to cool-climate European reds
• Didyme Malvasia (Capofaro): dry aromatic white; stone fruit, citrus, white flower, briny saline; vivid acidity from volcanic island terroir
• House philosophy: minimal intervention, varietal purity, terroir expression; winemaking guided by Laura Orsi, head winemaker across all five estates since 2004

Sustainability is embedded in the Tasca family's identity rather than treated as a marketing credential. Alberto Tasca helped found SOStain, a rigorous scientific sustainability registry for Sicilian viticulture established in 2010 and aligned with Italy's national VIVA program. Tasca d'Almerita was the first winery to achieve dual SOStain and VIVA certification. In 2019, Wine Enthusiast named the house European Winery of the Year for its commitment to sustainable viticulture. In 2021, Robert Parker Wine Advocate awarded the Green Emblem to Tasca, one of only 24 wineries worldwide to receive the honour at that time. In March 2023, already a registered Benefit Corporation, the house obtained international B Corp certification. In 2025, it was entered in the Italian Ministry of Enterprises' Special Register of Italian Historical Trademarks as a recognised Historic Brand, adding institutional recognition to nearly two centuries of family heritage.

• Co-founder of SOStain (est. 2010), Sicily's scientific sustainability registry aligned with the national VIVA program; first winery with dual SOStain and VIVA certification
• European Winery of the Year, Wine Enthusiast (2019); Robert Parker Wine Advocate Green Emblem (2021), one of only 24 wineries worldwide at the time of award
• B Corp certified March 2023; designated Italian Historic Brand by the Ministry of Enterprises in 2025
• Alberto Tasca serves as president of the SOStain Sicilia Foundation, which unites leading Sicilian producers around measurable sustainability goals