Pantelleria, a rugged and captivating land that safeguards an extraordinary wine heritage, becomes the new challenge for Pasqua Wines. On the occasion of its centenary, the Verona-based winery announces the launch of a project in collaboration with Carole Bouquet, aimed at enhancing the island’s viticultural potential and preserving ancestral knowledge that is at risk of disappearing.
Pantelleria: A Unique and Fragile Terroir
Pantelleria is renowned for its “alberello pantesco” vine training system, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, and for its “heroic” viticulture, required in a context of strong wind exposure and complex soils.
Over the years, the cultivated surface has drastically declined: from 450,000 quintals harvested in the 1970s to just 28,000 quintals in the early 2000s, making vineyard work a constant effort of dedication and labor.
Twenty years ago, Carole Bouquet acquired a 12-hectare estate on the island, of which 3.6 hectares are currently planted with Moscato d’Alessandria (Zibibbo), featuring vines up to 80 years old. Here, the actress and wine entrepreneur produces her Sangue d’Oro, a Passito di Pantelleria that expresses the island’s identity and the complexity of its territory, earning immediate acclaim from critics.
The Agreement Between Pasqua Wines and Carole Bouquet: Vision and Enhancement
Today, the expertise and vision of Pasqua Wines—recognized for its Icons, such as the Amarone della Valpolicella Terre di Cariano 2018 Cecilia Beretta, awarded Tre Bicchieri by Gambero Rosso—meet the Pantelleria project. The goal is to carry forward traditional winemaking knowledge with new stylistic codes, ensuring its continuity and enhancing the territory.
“This project is a small gem that fits perfectly into our vision and trajectory of value growth,” explains CEO Riccardo Pasqua. “The beauty of these vineyards, the charm of the island, and the savoir-faire developed by Carole Bouquet over the years make it a unique opportunity for us. Together with Carole, we want to preserve, give voice to, and revitalize this land.”
Carole Bouquet adds:
“I am thrilled to have met the Pasqua family, who understood my project and my dream. This passing of the torch also means a union of intentions, such as preserving a wine jewel of extraordinary value. A new phase of growth and development begins for this wine, as the Pasqua family will continue to interpret, with renewed strength but the same spirit, the excellence expressed by the artisans of Pantelleria.”
A Project with Cultural and Entrepreneurial Value
The project carries strong cultural as well as entrepreneurial significance: Pasqua Wines becomes the guardian of traditional practices, from manual harvesting to the natural drying of grapes in the sun and wind for two to three weeks, followed by vinification in stainless steel.
The Sangue d’Oro Passito di Pantelleria DOC, produced in Contrada Serraglia, comes from terraced vineyards protected by dry stone walls, on a terroir composed of 70% volcanic rock and 30% clay and limonite.
With this initiative, Pasqua Wines confirms its growth strategy based on research, innovation, and quality preservation, expanding its presence in the segment of iconic Italian wines and reinforcing the value of a unique and fragile wine heritage.
