Zisol 2014
Country
Italy
Region
Sicily
Grape Varieties
Nero d'Avola, Grillo, Catarratto
Sustainability
Organic Viticulture
Wine Types
Still, Red, White
About Zisola
Zisola is a Sicilian wine estate near Noto, in South-East Sicily, owned by the Mazzei family and focused on Nero d’Avola, Grillo, Catarratto and other Mediterranean varieties. Purchased in 2003, the estate extends the Mazzei family’s long winemaking experience from Tuscany to the island birthplace of Nero d’Avola. With traditional alberello-trained vineyards, limestone-rich soils and cooling breezes from the Ionian Sea, Zisola produces Sicilian wine with ripe fruit, freshness, elegance and clear regional identity. Zisola offers a refined expression of Italian island wine from one of Sicily’s most distinctive areas.
The Mazzei family, owners of Castello di Fonterutoli in Chianti Classico, have been closely connected to Italian winemaking for centuries. In 2003, the family identified the potential of South-East Sicily and began an ambitious project at Zisola, just outside Noto.
Heritage
A Mazzei project in Sicily
Today, two generations of the Mazzei family are involved in the estate, Filippo and Francesco, and Filippo’s son Giovanni. The project reflects the family’s wider philosophy: to work with local grape varieties, respect the identity of each region and apply technical expertise without losing the character of place.
A new expression of Nero d’Avola
Zisola is located in the historic homeland of Nero d’Avola, Sicily’s most important red grape. Rather than treating the variety as purely generous and powerful, the estate focuses on a more precise and elegant interpretation, shaped by altitude, exposure, limestone soils and cooling sea breezes.
This makes Zisola particularly relevant within the modern Sicilian wine landscape. It shows how Nero d’Avola can produce wines with concentration and Mediterranean warmth, but also freshness, structure and refinement.
Region and Vineyards
Noto and South-East Sicily
The Zisola estate is situated near Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage town known for its Baroque architecture and cultural importance. The surrounding landscape is defined by olive trees, citrus orchards, almond groves and vineyards, creating a distinctly Mediterranean setting.
The estate covers around 50 hectares, with approximately 24 hectares planted to vines. Vineyards sit between 90 and 130 metres above sea level, on gently sloping sites with west and south-west exposure. This position allows the grapes to ripen fully during long, warm summers, while breezes from the Ionian Sea help moderate heat and preserve aromatic freshness.
Limestone soils and native varieties
The soils at Zisola are rich in limestone and stony gravel, supporting drainage and encouraging vines to develop depth and resilience. These conditions are particularly well suited to Nero d’Avola, allowing the grape to express both fruit richness and a finer, more mineral structure.
The estate is planted primarily to Nero d’Avola, with Syrah and Petit Verdot also used for red wines. White varieties include Grillo and Catarratto, two important Sicilian grapes that bring freshness, citrus character and regional authenticity.
Viticulture and Winemaking
Traditional alberello training
Zisola’s vineyards are bush-trained using the traditional Sicilian alberello method, with a planting density of around 5,500 vines per hectare. This approach is well adapted to Sicily’s dry, sunny climate, helping to protect the fruit and naturally regulate vine balance.
The vineyards are surrounded by olive, citrus and almond trees, reinforcing the estate’s biodiversity and Mediterranean character. The aim is to work with the landscape rather than impose a model from elsewhere, allowing each variety to respond to Sicily’s climate and soils.
Precision and small-lot winemaking
Zisola has a small, efficient winery equipped with temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and around 350 oak barrels for ageing. This allows the team to manage fermentation carefully, preserving fruit purity, freshness and varietal detail.
Winemaking focuses on balance rather than extraction. Nero d’Avola is handled to retain its generous dark fruit and spice, while avoiding heaviness. Oak is used to support structure and texture, helping the wines develop polish, depth and ageing potential without masking their Sicilian origin.
Style of Wine
Zisola produces still red and white Sicilian wines. The red wines are led by Nero d’Avola, often supported by varieties such as Syrah and Petit Verdot. They typically show ripe cherry, plum, Mediterranean herbs, spice and a smooth, structured palate, with freshness from elevation and sea influence.
The white wines from Grillo and Catarratto bring a different expression of the estate, showing citrus, orchard fruit, floral notes and mineral lift. Across the range, the style is polished, expressive and distinctly Sicilian, combining Mediterranean ripeness with balance and finesse.
A Sicilian benchmark in the UK wine trade
Zisola offers a focused Sicilian range with strong regional identity. Nero d’Avola can support Italian island red listings, by-the-glass options and food-led menus, while Grillo and Catarratto help fill Italian island white wine gaps. Its Mazzei connection also gives buyers a recognisable fine wine context with distinctive Sicilian character.
