Planeta’s Sciara Nuova vineyards in Etna. “Sciara Nuova” means “new lava flow.”
Stewards of the land in Sicily since the 1600s and originally from Spain, the Planeta family’s impact on the evolution of Sicilian wines is significant. Planeta is recognized worldwide for its wine estates located in five regions throughout Sicily: Menfi, Vittoria, Noto, Etna and Capo Milazzo. The family also produces award-winning olive oils from its 148 hectares of olive groves.
Alessio Planeta, CEO, joined us for visit on The Connected Table LIVE! to discuss the family’s history in Sicily and role in the evolution of Sicilian wines from a bulk production region making wine destined for other regions’ bottling lines, to commercial bottling in the 1900s and a global rediscovery and renaissance in the 21st century. While the family has been landowners and farmers in Sicily for 17 generations, the modern Planeta winery was established in Ulmo in 1995. Located in the province of Agrigento, the Planeta family’s 16th century farmhouse (“baglio” in Sicilian dialect) remains a centerpiece of their expanded footprint throughout. Sicily.
Alessio Planeta
Alessio’s grandfather, Vito Planeta and uncle, Diego Planeta envisioned more and saw the potential of planting international varieties such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Merlot alongside Sicily’s numerous native varieties. Diego Planeta established the wine cooperative, Settesoli a community of growers in Menfi that started with eight members and now totals 2000.
Progress and expansion continued under the current generation led by Alessio, his cousins, Santi and Francesca Planeta who work as a team. Alessio serves as CEO and Technical Director with a focus on the winemaking. Santi oversees business operations development. Francesca oversees marketing and the company’s growing enotourism program.
Planeta was featured in HBO series “White Lotus” filmed in Sicily and remains a popular for tourists.
Today, Alessio Planeta oversees production of more than 2.4 million bottles a year in addition to the cultivation of olives, almonds and chickpeas. Alessio has served in several leadership roles in Sicily’s wine industry including President of Terre Siciliane Wines 2000-2009, President of Assovini Sicilia 2017-2020 and currently board member of Consorzio DOC Sicilia
In the annals of the 2000- year-old winemaking industry that stretches across Sicily, Planeta wines are not the oldest, or biggest, but they are, with Alessio as their guiding force, one of a handful of forward-thinking wineries on the island that have embraced and cultivated the potential of what Sicilian wines can be – and shown that they deserve a place at the dinner tables of the world.
We had the pleasure of visiting Planeta’s Etna Estate at Sciara Nuova this past September. While we tasted wines from all the family estates, here are selections from Etna.
Eruzione 1614 2021, 100% Carricante, Sicilia DOC Intense minerality, good acidity, notes of lemon zest, pine, fennel.
Feudo di Mezzo 2022 Etna DOC Rosso -Nerello Mascalese with a small amount of Nerello Cappuccio sourced from vineyards at 610 meters. Balanced with notes of ripe cherries, mint, flint, mushroom.
Eruzione 1614 2020 100% Nerello Mascalese Sicilia DOC – Notes of red berries, blackberry, mushroom and pine, wild fennel.
Importer: Palm Bay
Listen to our conversation with Alessio Planeta, CEO, on The Connected Table Live