Gilì

Agricola Gilì is run by vignerons Ermanno Vella and Alice Marconcini. Alice comes from Tuscany (outside Florence), and Ermanno was born and raised on Sicily. The two are based in Granitola Torretta, southwest of Marsala on the coast. Only about 50 people live in this tiny village, and everyone knows one another, forming a strong community with several winemakers. It is the closest point to Tunisia, and on a clear day you can see Pantelleria when standing on the coast.

The pair started their seaside endeavor in December 2022, producing their first vintage in 2023. The vineyards of Agricola Gilì border the Gorghi Tondi Nature Reserve. This natural park contains a type of topography called ‘karst,’ which is characterized by limestone formations, sinkholes, and caves. 

Wines grown where there is a significant portion of limestone show a lovely brightness and freshness, with prominent but integrated acidity. Plus, the coastal air infuses the grapes with a nice salinity. When winemakers embrace this type of terroir and produce a natural wine that embodies the landscape of the vineyard, the end result is a light and refreshing wine. 

One reason the two decided to start their project specifically in this region, is due to the biodiversity of the area. You can find many different types of plants and animals here, which helps balance the overall ecosystem and protects crops from bacteria and infestations. They also eventually chose this place for how wild and uninhabited it is. You truly sit close to nature here.

Agricola Gilì follows biodynamic practices, creating their first Preparation 500 this past October - packing manure into a cow horn. After burying the horn in the fields at the start of fall, you dig it out a few months later and mix the organic matter with water before spraying it on the vines in the spring. Healthy, happy grapes make great tasting wine.

Gilì produced 4,000 bottles in 2024, a small production for how many grapes they’re able to grow. This gives them the flexibility to share some of the grapes with their community - in fact the Grillo in Kalma’s Via del Mare comes from Gilì.

What’s next for them? They want to build their own cellar. Alice and Ermanno just bought a plot of land and are in the works of designing and building their very own cellar space. They’re also figuring out where they can plant olives and almonds, to add more biodiversity to their fields and diversify their crop.