Collection: Hauner - Sicily

I am a fanatic of Mediterranean sea. Actually, I think Mediterranean salty waters run through my veins. I have been spending my summers in Sicily since I was a little baby. With my grandparents back then and now with my family. When asked "what is the most crazy place I have ever been in Sicily and the Mediterranean sea", the answer is quite immediate: Aeolian Islands.

This group of 7 volcanic islands (2 of which still actively erupting) lays two hours sailing off of the North coast of Sicily. The combination of lava, deep blue sea, winds and vegetation made -and still make- these islands a quite unique place in the world. Beauty that enchanted many travellers, sailors and tourists in the last centuries. Among them, in the late '60s, the world famous designer and artist Carlo Hauner; who visited the islands one day and decided to spend the rest of his days there.

The myth of the Hauner winery started in the late 60' with Carlo Hauner establishing in Salina. Carlo moved there mainly to retire and paint. Back at that time, wine production on the islands was limited only to the ancient tradition of home-made passito wine: sweet wine that is made by leaving the local grapes of Malvasia seasoning under the sun and the sea-wind for some days. 

As new inhabitant he joined this tradition and soon became a true master of it. He quickly discovered that Aeolian Islands were not just a unique place for their beauty, but their unique climate, soils and landscape conditions were perfect for making wine. 

So he decided to establish the Hauner winery in Salina island; introducing brand new technologies such as controlled temperatures fermentations and barrels that never we seen on the island before. Technologies that changed forever the story of wine on these islands and that brought the winery to its current fame and wine production of whites, reds and obviously, the legendary Carlo Hauner's passito. 

Today, the Hauner tradition continues with Carlo's son (Carlo Jr.) and his grandson (Andrea). To me Andrea and Carlo are true friends. I endeavour to visit them in summers and enjoy to taste with them the new vintages. It is such a romantic and unique place. 

The crazy thing that happens to me when I have a glass of Salina Bianco or Hiera Rosso is that I immediately get transported on the islands. Their wines, indeed, have the power of recovering the scents and the smells of the hot summers on Salina. It is like taking a walk around the islands' Mediterranean maquis, volcanic sands, salty waters, winds and capers. Fresh, deep and powerful wines that never lack of elegance, minerality, acidity and tannins. 

Today the family extended the production from Salina to the neighbours active volcanic island of Vulcano where they produce the incredible Hierà and as tribute to Carlo, they decided to use his late career paintings as labels. 

Salute!