Biography
Valle dell’Acate is one of the more enterprising houses in the southeast Sicilian oenological panorama. It is situated in the Bidini area, in the hills of the Drillo valley in the famous triangle of territory between Acate, Comiso, and Vittoria. The house was founded by an initiative of the Jacono family, constantly active in the field of viticulture and wine ever since Vittoria was at the most dynamic center of exportation of wine for the French market at the end of the 19th century. Today the house is run by Gaetana Jacono, the sixth generation of the family. With the same passion which linked her ancestors to the vine and with evident entrepreneurial abilities, Gaetana Jacono has dedicated her work to the DOC and IGT wines of Sicily. Wines which have enjoyed great success, and on international markets as well. The property extends over 250 acres and a large part, since 2001, has been replanted with the principal grapes of the zone and with international varieties as well. Here the soil, locally know as “Milaro”, is characterized by a special sub-soil of calcareous sandstone interspersed with pockets of clay, a fine soil for quality wine. The advantages of the area, along with the utilization of advanced cellar equipment, allows Valle dell’Acate to produce a range of high level wines. The Insolia is an interesting wine, floral and citric, and Bitis, a blend of Chardonnay and Insolia, has a generous bouquet of citrus fruit, tropical fruit, and vanilla. The Cerasuolo di Vittoria has an important personality; a blend of Nero d’Avola (60%) and Frappato (40%), an intense ruby red, it is redolent of berry fruit, particularly blackberries and raspberries, liquorice, and chocolate. On the palate it is soft and velvety. It goes very well with red meat, roasts, and game stews. Frappato is intriguing, an aperitif wine with a fragrance of raspberries, as is Moro, 100% Nero d’Avola, with aromas of blueberries, ample and very warm and ideal with game. Very full the last wine to be created, Tané, a blend of Nero d’Avola and Syrah. Very complex, an impenetrable and dense ruby red, it is full and ample in aroma with notes of berry fruit, spices, vanilla and chocolate. Rich and structured, it is full in flavor, concentrated, supple, with a berry fruit finish. It is a fine match with cheese such as the Ragusano (a DOP product), the provola of Nebrodi, and pecorino, or with red meat and game.