The Corinto Nero originates from the lands of the eponymous polis of ancient Greece. It is a low-yield grape variety, with loose clusters, small berries, thin skin, a red-violet hue, and almost entirely seedless. Plinio Il Vecchio called it the “black sea grape.” Recent genetic and morphological studies on Corinto Nero DNA have shown that neither Italian Corinto Bianco nor Greek Corinto Bianco are color mutations of Corinto Nero, and therefore they are not directly related. This means that Corinto Nero remains a distinct variety with very unique characteristics.
In 1889, when phylloxera was devastating vineyards across Europe, the Lipari Corinto Nero survived thanks to the richness of ash and sand of the soil of an old crater (Fossa del Monte), which prevented the pest from taking hold. Historically used for producing sultana raisins (passolina), it is now vinified in pure form and used in Malvasia delle Lipari DOC, making up 5–8% of the blend and contributing its characteristic amber color.
Since 2005, Tenuta di Castellaro has undertaken a project to recover Corinto Nero through massal selection across the oldest vineyards of the seven Aeolian Islands. Once on the brink of extinction, this variety has been successfully propagated with the collaboration of Pépinières Guillaume, a prominent French nursery, producing thousands of healthy, well-differentiated plants. These vines now serve as a reference for the healthy and balanced propagation of our vineyard stock.
From an enological perspective, Corinto Nero has unique characteristics. Being seedless, it lacks the herbaceous notes and astringency typical of tannins. Despite its low yield, it expresses rare minerality and freshness, with a pronounced acidity above 6 g/l and a low pH around 3.5. It is a red wine with qualities similar to a white wine, comparable to varieties like Pinot Noir, Vernatsch, and Garnacha. Corinto Nero is one of the few red wines that pairs perfectly with fish dishes.
The Lipari terroir, particularly that of Tenuta di Castellaro, significantly influences the wine yield of all cultivated varieties. We farm organically, exclusively using bush vine (alberello) training on sandy volcanic soils rich in microelements such as sulfur and lapilli. The strong temperature fluctuations and sea-level altitude, combined with the unique characteristics of Corinto Nero, make our production one of a kind. Tenuta di Castellaro’s wines speak the language of Lipari and of the Aeolian Islands, distinct from the rest of Sicily and southern Italy.
Our production, developed with the guidance of enologists such as Salvo Foti and Emiliano Falsini, follows a concept of contemporary craftsmanship. In the vineyards, we accompany the vines without controlling nature, preserving the quality of the grapes in the winery. Corinto Nero is vinified using only the best grapes of the vintage and aged according to a style that reflects the territory, gastronomic tradition, and personal taste, avoiding chemical products or fining agents.
The combination of these factors, together with the legendary beauty of the Aeolian Islands, gives life to the wines of Tenuta di Castellaro.
