“In wine, there are a number of perfect chemical balances, only nature can come to that. Who are we to do better than nature?” It is through this lens that Alessandro Viola goes about farming his tiny seven-hectare parcel in the northeast corner of Sicily, overlooking the nearby town of Alcamo, halfway between the cities of Trapani and Palermo. 

Since starting his own estate over a decade ago, Alessandro, son of a local vingeron, has established himself at the forefront of Sicily’s hardline low-intervention wine movement. (He also advises and collaborates with other winemakers in the region.) With a degree in enology and viticulture and winemaking experience throughout Europe, including Piemonte and Georgia, he leads all stages of the winemaking process, from the agricultural management of the vineyard to the wine-making operations, but adheres to a deceptively simple mantra: use only the finest grapes and good wine will happen.

The overall philosophy is simple: make wine using only grapes. Pure wine, Alessandro believes, is not only more ethical but better. It seems to be working, as he consistently turns out some of the most transparent, unadulterated and intriguing wines seen on the island in a very long time.