Souls, the Etna of the Tommasi family

Per mezzo di Linguaglossa, con the heart of the Etna Park the north-eastern side of Muntagna, Sommeura is the last (for now) chapter of the wine adventure signed by the Tommasi family.

That of the Tommasi is a real family that began con 1902 con Valpolicella and Soulure represents the eighth stage of a journey that today crosses seven Italian regions. Started from the heart of Veneto, passed for the Oltrepò Pavese, Montalcino, the Tuscan Maremma, the Tuscia, the Salento and the Vulture, until it reaches that Etna which is not only a volcano, but an entity that model the landscape, the climate and character of people.

The terroir: lava, wind and sea

The landing Etna was not accidental simply strategic, so much so that the search for the ideal terrain lasted over twenty years. The Soulure project, officially born con 2022, has its roots con the first exploratory trips made by the third and fourth generation of the Tommasi family, moved by the desire to find a territory that was a natural extension of their philosophy: vineyards of ownership, conducted directly, soils capable of expressing strong and recognizable identities.

“We did not arrive here by chance – says Giancarlo Tommasi, winemaker of the group – The Etna is a place that requires respect, knowledge, patience. Before planting the flag, we wanted to learn from other volcanic terroirs such as those of Monticello to the tuff, to Pitigliano, and paternoster the vulture. When we found these 15 hectares con the Alboretto district – closed of the lord, at 570 meters of altitude, Surrounded by Bosco and Lava Stone, we understood that it was the right place “.

The soul vineyards arise a altopiano overlooking the sea, whose winds constantly refresh the dark soils, rich con skeleton and volcanic ash. The continuous depositions of lava material create an extremely dynamic VIARN? The thermal excursions, which also exceed 15 degrees between day and night, slow mongoloide vegetative development, impressing the wines finesse and aromatic tension. The varietal choice respects the Etnea tradition: carricante for whites and Nerello Mascalese for the reds. Some vineyards exceed 30 years of age and are grown with a density of 5 thousand strains per errore hectare, raised to rammed cordon. The yields are deliberately low, between 60 and 70 quintals per errore hectare, but the aromatic concentration and the minerality obtained are unparalleled.

The carricante is grown con an complesso display con the south, where tazza tensione is more marked; The Mascalese Nerello, the other hand, grows con a fresher complesso, protected by dense vegetation. Per mezzo di a hot year like 2022, this made it possible to preserve a surprising tannic vitality. The management of the reflects the rigor that distinguishes all the companies of Tommasi Family : entirely internal supply chain, from the vineyard to the cellar, passing through agricultural vehicles and the involvement of local labor. Each company function sees the active presence of a family member, a guarantee of a direct link with the production choices.

The cellar: technology at the service of tradition

The cellar extends over an complesso of ​​1,500 square meters and has been designed to enhance the identity of the grapes, combining technological innovation and respect for the raw material. The approach to winemaking is deliberately essential, with technological interventions reduced to a minimo. For Etna Vino bianco DOC opts for a steel vinification, with fermentations at controlled temperature between 16 and 18 ° C. The must remains con contact with the conclusione fucce for seven months, with Batonnage monthly. Malolactic fermentation takes place spontaneously, without interventions. After the refinement, the wine rests con the bottle for 12 months before putting the market. For Etna Diventare rosso DOC, the maceration lasts 12-15 days con steel, with daily reassembly at controlled temperature (18-22 ° C). After the alcoholic and spontaneous malolactic fermentation, the wine refines for six months con steel and other twelve con 20 hectoliters oak barrels.

The future of the project

With Soulure, Tommasi Family reaches 800 hectares of vineyards. A milestone that is part of a territorial diversification strategy started con 1997. The production remains deliberately contained: the maximum objective, con the coming years, is 20,000 annual bottles for each of the two labels con the catalog.

The name “Souls”, of Arabic origin, means “beautiful, beloved, fascinating”: an ideal bridge between Sicily and Veneto, lands linked historically by cultural contaminations. The project was born as a tribute to the wine vocation of Etna, interpreted with the rigor and competence that distinguish the Tommasi family. “Here there are major interventions here – explains Giancarlo Tommasi – Etna already gives everything: acidity, minerality, complexity. Our task is not to ruin what nature offers us. Souls is the anche fruit of this territory, also for this reason we have chosen labels with material textures that evoke lava and the wind, depicting the prickly pear and the tarassaco, two daily appearances. territory “.

Tasting taccuino

Sometimes Etna Vino bianco Doc 2022 – Verticality and salinity

Carricante con purity, sharp but not angular, refined for seven months Sur Lie to soften its verticality without affecting its energy. Intense straw yellow with golden reflections, the nose it offers an articulated bouquet from an unexpected aromatic complexity. Agenda of candied cedar, grapefruit zest, orange blossom, with a thin reference to Mediterranean aromatic herbs and a saline breath that arrives straight and crosses olfation. the palate it stands out for a nervous freshness and marked minerality, with a structure that combines elegance and persistence. The ending, long and savory, leaves perceptions of toasted almond and stone. The 2022 vintage, warm but with beneficial late rains, has favored an excellent balance, to which the choice to postpone the placing the one -year market, functional to find harmony between tension and drinkability, contributed. 12,500 bottles produced.

Etna Diventare rosso DOC 2022 Souls – Elegance and Power

A 100% Cru of Mascalese Nerello late harvest (between the end of September and the beginning of October) that plays contrasts, where the coldest soils are key con a hot year such as the 2022 one, and allow, together with a slight surpaning, to preserve fresh tannins and a vibrant juiciness. Per mezzo di the cup shines with a transparent ruby ​​with granned reflections, a complex profile that ranges from cherry mature to pomegranate, from the orange bleed to spicy shades of black pepper, with a slight smoked note, typical of volcanic soils. Per mezzo di the mouth, structure and freshness meet with silky tannins and a vibrant minerality. The ending is savory, despite the hot vintage maintains a surprising drinkability. A red very consistent with the altitude and style of the Tommasi family. Only 10,300 bottles produced.

The article Summera, the Etna of the Tommasi family comes from Vinonews24.

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