tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3068416237931899943.post-24536660881304530762008-01-20T06:23:00.000-08:002008-01-20T06:30:23.799-08:002008-01-20T06:30:23.799-08:00Planeta is a fabulous family owned Italian winery located in Sambuca di Sicilia and Menfi, run by Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta. It is one of the most highly successful wineries in Sicily, getting top marks from the likes of Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast. Winemaker Carlo Corino has been celebrated in Italian and international wine publications. This Sicilian winery has also been famous for its eye catching labels and clever marketing campaigns. Planeta was born in 1985 with the desire to seriously put Sicilian wines on the winelover’s map. Planeta’s philosophy concentrated on three main values in regards to its wine production: Promoting the Italian indigenous grape varieties; implementing the use of the best international varieties receptive to their terroir, and restoring the historic Sicilian DOC, which hadn’t been synonymous with quality for some time. Although the beautiful island of Sicily was never revered for its wines (Marsala had fallen into the slightly disgraceful category of “cooking wine”), the local winemakers produced a staggering 12% of the overall Italian wine production. The majority of this wine was bulk wine, until the Sicilian wine renaissance began, with Planeta at the helm.<br /><br />In 1995 the first vineyards were planted in the province of Agrigento (more famous for Greek temples, than quality wines) and 10 years late the winery construction was complete. The first wines were of international varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon partially blended with the indigenous Grecanico and Nero d’ Avola. Now there are 4 wineries and 350 hectares of vineyards planted in the best areas of Sicily.the appellations are I.G.T. Sicilia and D.O.C. Cerasuolo di Vittoria. Planeta’s wines truly show the Sicilian beauty, body, temper, and style. Planeta has been enormously successful and now export to 26 countries worldwide. Apart from their superb wines, they also make boutique extra virgin olive oil, called Olio Extravergine di Oliva Planeta.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Planeta’s Wines:<br /></span><ul><li>La Segreta Bianco - Grecanico, Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, and Fiano. Annual production 240,000 bottles</li><li>La Segreta Rosso- Nero d’Avola, Merlot, and Syrah</li><li>Cerasuolo di Vittoria - 40% Frappato, 60% Nero d’Avola</li><li>Alastro - 50% Grecanico, 25% Chardonnay barrel fermented and 25% Chardonnay from stainless steel tank fermentation</li><li>Santa Cecilia - 100% Nero d’ Avola</li><li>Chardonnay - 100% Chardonnay</li><li>Cometa - 100% Fiano</li><li>Syrah - 100% Syrah</li><li>Merlot - 100% Merlot</li><li>Burdese - 100% Cabernet Sauvignon</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Contact Details:</span><br />92013 Menfi, Italy<br />(Fax) 091-6124335<br />Email: <a href="mailto://planeta@planeta.it">planeta@planeta.it</a><br />Web: <a href="http://www.planeta.it">www.planeta.it</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winery Details:</span><br />D.O.: Sicily<br />Founded: 1995<br />Area under vine: 300 Ha<br />Grape Varietals: Grecanico , Moscato di Noto , Nero d'Avola, Frappato, Fiano, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and many experimental varietiesromannoreply@blogger.com