PALMENTO COSTANZO

Results validated by DNV

Palmento Costanzo was born in 2010 from the desire of the Costanzo family to get closer to the land that saw them grow up, the slopes of Etna, reclaiming their craftsmanship and direct knowledge of nature which manifest themselves in the creation of elegant, expressive wines, authentic products of the «Muntagna», as the volcano is affectionately called by its inhabitants. An adventure that began with the purchase of a handful of hectares in Contrada Santo Spirito, in Passopisciaro, in the province of Catania, on the northern side of Etna. A centuries-old ungrafted vineyard, one of the few to survive the phylloxera plague which, at the beginning of the 20th century, destroyed practically every row in Europe. And then the restoration of the ancient lava stone millstone, an extraordinary testimony to how viticulture had a central role in the productive fabric of the Etna area. Palmento Costanzo owns 18 hectares, 12 of which are in Contrada Santo Spirito, in Passopisciaro, where the first vineyard purchased by the family is located, populated by vines that are over 130 years old. The remaining plots extend into the nearby Contrade di Randazzo, Zottorinoto, Bragaseggi, Feudi di Mezzo. In Santa Maria di Licodia, the Costanzo family cultivates the Contrada del Cavaliere, a cru on the southwestern side of Etna particularly suited to Carricante. The construction of the modern cellar, built next to the nineteenth-century Palmento to expand production, followed strict bio-architecture protocols. Partly buried under the hill, it blends in perfectly with the landscape, taking advantage of natural light and ventilation. Conical openings in the ceiling allow the lighting of underground rooms, with a drastic reduction in the energy required for artificial light. A system of underground tunnels, called temo-labyrinth, exploits the intense ventilation of the place to regulate the temperature, with energy savings which, in summer, reduces consumption by over 65%. Finally, the materials chosen respect tradition throughout: wood, iron, glass and lava stone harmonize with the ancient environments of the Palmento in a continuous reference between present and past which enhances the charm - and sustainability - of the entire structure