Whites, reds and sparkling wines. The wines from this Sicilian winery, run by the Laudicina and Cottone families, have something special to offer. Because the sea also plays a part in shaping their character
by Chiara Risolo
Sicily is the region with the most vineyards in Italy. Man, with the help of Mother Nature, has made it so.
Those in the know, however, will recall that its rise to the pinnacle of Italian viticulture is a more recent development. Thanks to the protection consortia and the foresight of numerous producers, this extraordinary land, once a mere supplier of grapes sold by the bunch, has in less than thirty years become a wine-making chessboard upon which kings and queens – that is, white and red grapes – now move with ease and expertise. When expertly vinified, they yield authentic, refined and distinctive aromas in the glass, as inebriating as you’d expect.
Among others, one of the key features of this wine renaissance is Baglio Oro, a winery situated in the west of the island. It is located in Contrada Perino, Marsala, in the Trapani region, and thus benefits from all the invaluable blessings generously bestowed by the sea and the wind. These ‘ingredients’ nourish and shape the grapes from season to season, ensuring they grow healthy and strong. Two families have always managed Baglio Oro, the Laudicinas and the Cottones, connected by love even more than by business.
// Since 2022, the winery has been a member of the SOStain Sicilia Foundation, which aims to promote best practices aligned with the objectives set out in the UN’s 2030 Agenda, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. //
The venture officially started in 2008 with the careful restoration of the family’s historic bagli (properties). The right investments, made without the pressure to perform, a sustainable approach in the vineyard and in the cellar, and a highly respected sales network have done – and continue to do – the rest. A tangible ‘rest’ evident both on the wine lists of renowned restaurants and on the shelves of prestigious wine shops (Signorvino, to name but one, whose discerning selection is legendary).
// Meininger Verlag, a well-known German publishing house specialising in oenology, has listed the 2024 vintage of Lagunare, a pure Grillo, among its recent top 100 Italian wines. //
The selection of wines is extensive and diverse. It appeals to palates accustomed to whites, reds, and even sparkling wines: try Ammàri and Truscè to see for yourself. Recently relaunched in new packaging, the former is a delightful sparkling wine with distinct salty and citrus notes, an excellent choice as an aperitif. At the same time, the latter, a balanced blend of Catarratto and Chardonnay, is a dry, savoury, and incredibly fresh Charmat. To be honest, savouriness and freshness are among the hallmarks of Baglio Oro’s wines, as they are the result of an area kissed by the sun and caressed by invigorating sea breezes. The two single-varietal Grillo wines, Aralto Riserva and Lagunare from the Le Contrade selection, are not to be missed. Aralto, with its elegant, intense straw-yellow colour, is a burst of fruit: on the nose, notes of ripe white-fleshed peach are immediately apparent. It has a rich, full-bodied yet balanced palate, which complements even the finest raw dish without overpowering it. Lagunare, with its delicate greenish hues and just the right touch of saltiness, is a must-have, a versatile choice for truly Mediterranean feasts.
Thanks to the installation of solar panels, Baglio Oro utilises solar energy to satisfy its production needs, thereby reducing its environmental impact, CO2 emissions, and reliance on other energy sources.
Alongside these wines, which are successful celebrations of native white grape varieties in a glass, there is also room for reds of great character. Starting with the most international of them all, Dosnar, a pure Syrah, fruity, spicy and balsamic, and the aristocratic Ceppineri Riserva, a Nero d’Avola for meditation, the inevitable dark side of Sicily.
(Baglio Oro – A “full beam” freshness – Barchemagazine.com – Excerpted from Barche, May 2026)
