On the Scala dei Turchi plateau of western Sicily, sheltered by hills and kissed by sea breezes, the Cuffaro family has cultivated vines for centuries. Their estate — organically farmed, humus-rich in soil, and naturally well-ventilated — produces five wines of exceptional character from Sicily's finest indigenous varieties. From the mineral freshness of the Catarratto Giovanni and the delicate Insolia Euphrasia, to the structured power of the Nero d'Avola Filippo II, the sparkling elegance of Donna di Rose, and the vivid brilliance of the Lilianne rosé — this is western Sicily at its most confident and complete. Five wines. One plateau. Centuries of tradition.
Request a quoteThere are plateaux in western Sicily that have been given by nature what others attempt to manufacture through intervention. The land of Tenute Cuffaro, on a plateau named Scala dei Turchi and sheltered on all sides by rolling hills not far from the sea, is one such place. The soil here is of medium texture, unusually dark, and naturally dense with humus — physical and agronomic characteristics that combine with the ideal ventilation and sun exposure of the plateau to produce grapes that are, in the estate's own words, naturally healthy.
The family behind Akragas Rich Wines has farmed this land for centuries, and their agricultural philosophy reflects that depth of tenure. Fertilisation is carried out using leguminous green manure — field beans alternated with organic fertilisers — a practice that speaks not of fashionable sustainability but of inherited wisdom about what this particular soil requires. Every plot is cultivated with methods that honour the traditional artisan philosophy of the estate while embracing modern practicality where it serves quality.
The wines of Tenute Cuffaro draw on the great indigenous varieties of western Sicily: Nero d'Avola for the reds and rosés, Catarratto and Insolia for the whites. These are not varieties that require apology or explanation in the modern market — they are among the most characterful and food-friendly grapes in the Italian canon, and on the Scala dei Turchi plateau they find conditions of near-ideal expression.
GIOVANNI is the estate's Catarratto white — straw yellow with greenish hues, intensely fruity and lightly floral, with notes of jasmine, apricot, white peach, and yellow plum. Balanced and fresh in the mouth, it offers both immediate pleasure and genuine longevity. EUPHRASIA, from Insolia grapes, presents a more delicate register — golden yellow with greenish reflections, a bouquet of white peach, exotic fruits, broom flowers, and mineral nuances, with a taste that is fresh, fragrant, and savoury throughout.
FILIPPO II is the estate's flagship Nero d'Avola — a wine the catalogue describes, without overstatement, as the quintessential expression of the variety. Fearfulness and elegance coexist on the nose: spices, flowers, and red fruits in succession, followed by a palate of balanced alcohol, purebred tannins, and marked minerality. It is a wine built to evolve over years, suited to elegant meats and aged cheeses, and bearing all the character of its Sicilian provenance.
DONNA DI ROSE is a sparkling rosé of distinction — produced with extended maturation, exhibiting a delicate blush pink hue and offering floral and fruity notes of rose, wild strawberry, and pink grapefruit, complemented by herbaceous nuances of tea and mint. The interplay of acidity and minerality on the palate makes it one of the most versatile wines in the estate's portfolio, suited equally to aperitifs and seafood preparations.
LILIANNE completes the range as a still Nero d'Avola rosé of impeccable brilliance — vivid in colour with beautiful reflections, aromatic with notes of fleshy flowers, pomegranate, and cherry, and well-structured on the palate with a harmony that makes it one of the most composed rosés produced in Sicily today.
Akragas Rich Wines is available through UniqueWines in limited allocation. We commend each of the five expressions without reservation.
