Drinking wine can also be sustainable – the Sicilian family business Donnafugata has been proving this for decades. With special shapes, lightweight glass bottles and recently even a cork made from recycled ocean plastic. And when the traditional company is not dealing with sustainability issues, it is working on artistic collaborations or inviting guests to Sicily for tastings.
A plate of homemade pasta, good olive oil – all that’s missing is the right bottle of wine and the Italian evening is complete. The Sicilian wine company Donnafugata has long been known to wine connoisseurs. Founder Giacomo Rallo comes from the fourth generation of a family with more than 170 years of experience in the world of wine. He founded Donnafugata in 1983, together with his wife Gabriella, who is also a pioneer in viticulture. Today, their children José and Antonio continue to run the traditional company.
From the volcano to the island
Donnafugata embodies Sicily in all its facets: The company takes advantage of the island’s different geographical characteristics: four wineries benefit from everything that nature has to offer. Donnafugata even grows wine on Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Sandy volcanic soils ensure that the water drains well, and the strong temperature fluctuations between day and night favor the production of aromatic grapes.
Donnafugata also owns vineyards on the island of Pantelleria, between Sicily and Africa, where grapes are grown on small terraces. These prevent soil erosion and thus protect biodiversity.
With a total of 467 hectares of vineyards, Donnafugata covers a large part of the region’s different microclimates and thus benefits from different wine aromas. The company also endeavors to plant autochthonous grape varieties: those that are indigenous to the area.
Turning waste into a cork
Donnafugata also strives to ensure that not only the winegrowing process is sustainable, but also the packaging. For example, the family business uses lighter glass bottles to reduce emissions from their production and transportation. Enjoying Sicilian wine and cleaning up the beaches of Southeast Asia at the same time? This is also possible – thanks to Donnafugata’s latest sustainability project. Since the beginning of February, the world’s first wine with a cork made from recycled ocean plastic has been available. The blue cork, reminiscent of a day at the beach, goes perfectly with the Damarino white wine, which is best enjoyed with light seafood dishes. Donnafugata has already recycled a total of 1.15 tons of waste from the coastal areas of Southeast Asia and used it to create the Nomacorc Ocean cap.
For the family business, sustainability is anything but a passing trend. The Rallo family has also been experimenting with sustainable cultivation and harvesting methods for years. At the Contessa Entellina winery, the grapes are harvested at dawn when they are at their lowest temperature. This has reduced the energy consumption for cooling the grapes by 70 percent.
Wine, art and culture
The creative artist labels that adorn Donnafugata’s bottles are not the only proof that wine and art get along wonderfully. Donnafugata also joins forces with the Dolce & Gabbana fashion label: two Italian icons par excellence. The result is an extravagant wine collection in which the fashion house was responsible for the design of the bottles.
There is good news for all those who are now not only in the mood for wine, but also for the whole range of Sicilian flair: Donnafugata offers guided tours of its wineries all year round. You can decide here which corner of Sicily you want to visit.
And here is the white wine Damarino, whose closure is made entirely from recycled plastic.
Not only wine is sustainable, but also jeans. You can read how to do this here.
Photos: © Donnafugata
