2020 COS, Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico, Sicily, Italy

Producer: Founded in 1980 by 3 friends that were students in their 20’s  - Giambattista Cilia, Giusto Occhipinti & Cirino Strano. Cilia’s father had given him a small plot of old vines planted to Nero d’Avola & Frappato, as an early inheritance.The winery name was formed by the initials of their last names. COS is known for making highly respected natural wine while maintaining a classic style. No chemicals are used in the vineyards, wines are made using native Sicilian grape varieties native yeast fermentation,  a combination of terracotta amphora, concrete and large format oak for fermentation & aging, and minimal addition of sulfur.

Place:  in the city of Vittoria, on Sicily’s southern coast, 700 ft above the mediterranean.

Farming: Certified organic since 2007 with biodynamic principles

Cuvee: ‘cerasuolo’ meaning, cherry like. Thanks to COS the Cerasuolo di Vittoria was elevated to DOCG status in 2005, remaining the 1st & only appellation in Sicily.

Varietal: Nero d’Avola 60% & Frappato 40%

Soil: red sandy soils over limestone bedrock

Winemaking: Spontaneous fermentation on the skins with indigenous yeast, followed by aging in slavonian botti for 1 year, followed by a year in concrete.

Tasting Notes: forest floor - ripe black cherry - leather & spice - firm tannin