Eat and drink local: Tenuta di Castellaro winery, Lipari, Italy

The undeveloped coastline of Lipari Island, Italy

 

The largest isle in the Aeolian archipelago between northern Sicily and Italy’s Calabrian coast (home of Naples and the Amalfi coast), Lipari shares its name with the largest town as well.  Early settlers took advantage of the island’s volcanic origins, developing a lucrative industry producing tools made from the abundant supply of obsidian.  Along with the six other Aeolian isles, Lipari’s volcanic history earned it a spot on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2000.  The island is a popular summer retreat served by a number of ferries from Sicily and the mainland.

 

Castello di Lipari (Lipari Castle) sits atop the tallest hill in the town of Lipari, Italy, directly above the harbor

 

Marina Lunga in the harbor of the town of Lipari, Italy

 

Grape vines are vertical and not trellised, with the grapes growing low to the ground to avoid the strong prevailing winds at Tenuta di Castellaro winery, Lipari, Italy

 

We made an evening/sunset visit to Tenuta di Castellaro winery on the island of Lipari, Italy.  At the winery we discovered the inescapable role played by terroir on the volcanic island. T he winery uses the so-called “bush method” for growing grapes with the vines vertical and not trellised and the grape clusters close to the ground, avoiding the strong prevailing winds of the island.  The winery chose to name its wines after the names of stone found on the island such as “Bianco Pomice” and “Nero Ossidiana” (obsidian).

 

Grapes just before harvest at Tenuta di Castellaro winery, Lipari, Italy

 

The wines of Tenuta di Castellaro winery that we tasted after our tour of the winery and vineyards, Lipari, Italy

 

Zucchini fritters served as part of the hors d’oeuvres with our wine tasting at Tenuta di Castellaro winery, Lipari, Italy

 

Tomato and olive bruchetta served as part of the hors d’oeuvres with our wine tasting at Tenuta di Castellaro winery, Lipari, Italy

 

Sunset over neighboring islands viewed from the vineyards of Tenuta di Castellaro winery, Lipari, Italy

 

Sun-lit clouds at sunset viewed from the vineyards of Tenuta di Castellaro winery, Lipari, Italy

 

Sunset with a thunderstorm raining over neighboring islands viewed from the vineyards of Tenuta di Castellaro winery, Lipari, Italy