The soils in Sicilia result from the slow contraction of the sea lying between the land masses of Africa and Eurasia. This contraction pushed up limestone seabed to form the mountains and hills of Sicilia, where one can find vines. Hills of Sicilia are based on Tertiary clayey flysch, Tertiary calcareous rocks, limestone, and sandstone. The combination of calcareous, volcanic rocks, and schist offer a broad range to perfectly grow vines.

Paolo Caciorgna, the renowned Tuscan wine maker, started in 2005 this new venture after his first visit to this remote area in the north east part of Sicily. His fascination for the black mineral-rich lava sand and the tremendous potential of the centenary pre-phylloxera Nerello Mascalese vines pushed him to buy a small estate of 1.3 hectares. "Planting a vineyard means putting down roots: where you plant, you live” he says, with his softly inflected Tuscan directness. “Italy’s patrimony is its vineyards, vines and soils. By saving them we also save the wisdom of the people who have always worked them.”