Valle dell'Acate

Valle dell'Acate traces its roots to the late 19th century, when Giuseppe Jacono established the cantina in Acate, in what is today the Classico core of Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG. The founding era coincided with Vittoria's status as Sicily's leading wine export center, when massive volumes of southeastern Sicilian red wine traveled north to blend with thinner European wines and to supply French production gaps following the phylloxera crisis. The Jacono family steered the estate through the 20th century's transitions, from bulk-export economics to the emergence of estate-bottled quality Sicilian wine and the establishment of Cerasuolo di Vittoria as Sicily's first and still only DOCG (elevated in 2005). The sixth generation is now represented by Gaetana Jacono, who joined the family business in 2000 and has led the estate's evolution toward organic viticulture, single-vineyard Classico expressions, and broad international distribution. Valle dell'Acate's continuity across six generations places it among Cerasuolo di Vittoria's defining historic producers.

• Founded late 19th century by Giuseppe Jacono in Acate during Vittoria's era as Sicily's leading wine export center
• Steered the estate through the 20th-century transition from bulk export to estate-bottled quality Sicilian wine
• Sixth generation under Gaetana Jacono since 2000, leading evolution toward organic farming and single-vineyard expressions
• Continuity across six generations places Valle dell'Acate among Cerasuolo di Vittoria's defining historic family producers

Valle dell'Acate farms approximately 70 hectares organically in the territory of Acate, one of the three municipalities (with Comiso and Vittoria) that define the Classico subzone of Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG. The vineyards sit on the appellation's signature red sandy soils, locally known as sabbie rosse, layered over calcareous limestone bedrock. A distinctive tufa layer at approximately 90 cm depth acts as a natural water reservoir, holding winter rainfall and releasing it gradually to vine roots during the long, hot, dry summers typical of southeastern Sicily's coastal climate. The combination of free-draining red sand topsoil and the moisture-buffering tufa layer below creates ideal conditions for late-ripening Mediterranean varieties: Frappato thrives with its preference for sandy soils and benefits from the cool subsoil moisture, while Nero d'Avola achieves full phenolic ripeness without water stress. The estate has been certified organically farmed since the 2010s, reflecting the broader shift toward sustainable viticulture across Cerasuolo di Vittoria's quality producers.

• Approximately 70 hectares in Acate, one of three Classico-subzone municipalities of Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG (with Comiso and Vittoria)
• Sabbie rosse (red sandy soils) over calcareous limestone bedrock; the appellation's signature terroir
• Tufa layer at approximately 90 cm depth acts as natural water reservoir, supporting vine balance during hot dry summers
• Certified organically farmed since the 2010s, reflecting Cerasuolo di Vittoria's broader sustainable viticulture trend

Valle dell'Acate practices the assemblage approach to Cerasuolo di Vittoria, vinifying Nero d'Avola and Frappato separately before blending the finished components, in contrast to COS's co-fermentation of the two varieties in a single tank. The separate-vinification method allows each variety to express its character fully: Nero d'Avola provides structure, dark fruit depth, and tannic backbone, while Frappato contributes red-fruit lift, floral aromatics, and bright acidity. The flagship Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico DOCG 'BDN' is aged in a combination of large neutral Slavonian oak botti and concrete tanks, preserving fruit clarity and the varieties' distinctive aromatic profiles. The single-cru Iri da Iri prestige bottling, first released in 2018 from a specific Acate plot, sees some French oak aging for added complexity and structure. Varietal bottlings including Il Frappato (pure Frappato) and Il Moro (pure Nero d'Avola) showcase each variety's standalone character, while Bell'Assai expresses Frappato under the Vittoria DOC framework.

• Separate vinification of Nero d'Avola and Frappato followed by assemblage, versus COS's co-fermentation method
• Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico DOCG 'BDN' aged in large neutral Slavonian oak botti and concrete to preserve fruit clarity
• Iri da Iri single-cru sees French oak aging for added complexity and structure; first released in 2018
• Varietal bottlings Il Frappato and Il Moro Nero d'Avola showcase each variety's standalone character

Valle dell'Acate is widely regarded as one of the Big Three of Cerasuolo di Vittoria alongside COS (the Vittoria-based natural-wine pioneer practicing co-fermentation and clay amphora aging) and Planeta (Sicily's major multi-territory producer with significant Cerasuolo di Vittoria holdings). The three producers represent distinct philosophies within the appellation: Valle dell'Acate anchors the traditional family-estate approach with separate vinification and large neutral oak; COS represents the natural and biodynamic wing with co-fermentation and amphora; Planeta represents the modern Sicilian quality movement with broad varietal expression and a polished international style. Valle dell'Acate's wines have earned consistent recognition from Wine Advocate, Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri, and other major critics, with the BDN Classico DOCG and the Iri da Iri prestige bottling drawing particular attention. The estate's international distribution is extensive across the US, UK, Northern European, and Asian markets, making Valle dell'Acate one of the most visible ambassadors of Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG globally.

• Big Three of Cerasuolo di Vittoria: Valle dell'Acate (traditional family-estate assemblage), COS (natural-wine pioneer, co-fermentation, amphora), Planeta (modern multi-territory quality)
• Consistent recognition from Wine Advocate, Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri, and other major critics across the BDN Classico and Iri da Iri prestige bottlings
• Extensive international distribution across US, UK, Northern Europe, and Asian markets
• Visible global ambassador of Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, helping anchor the appellation's identity as Sicily's flagship red wine DOCG

While Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG anchors the Valle dell'Acate identity, the estate produces a broader portfolio under the Vittoria DOC and Sicilia DOC frameworks, showcasing the breadth of southeastern Sicily's varietal palette. Il Frappato Sicilia DOC is a varietal Frappato bottling that highlights the grape's distinctive red-cherry, violet, and herbal character outside the Cerasuolo blend context. Il Moro Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC presents Nero d'Avola as a standalone varietal wine with structure, dark fruit, and Mediterranean herb complexity. Bell'Assai is a varietal Frappato bottled under the Vittoria DOC framework (the appellation that covers varietal expressions of the two Cerasuolo varieties). On the white side, Bidis is a Chardonnay-Insolia blend in a Bordeaux-inspired Sicilian style, named after a Roman archaeological site reflecting the deep historical layers of the Acate territory. This portfolio diversity allows Valle dell'Acate to express both the traditional blend tradition (in BDN and Iri da Iri) and the appellation's varietal possibilities.

• Il Frappato Sicilia DOC: varietal Frappato highlighting red-cherry, violet, and herbal character outside the Cerasuolo blend context
• Il Moro Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC: varietal Nero d'Avola with structure, dark fruit, and Mediterranean herb complexity
• Bell'Assai Frappato di Vittoria DOC: varietal Frappato bottled under the Vittoria DOC framework that covers varietal expressions of Cerasuolo's two varieties
• Bidis Chardonnay-Insolia Sicilia DOC: Bordeaux-inspired Sicilian white blend named after a Roman archaeological site in the Acate territory