Pasqua Wines purchases Bond Girl’s Sicily winery
Pasqua Wines has acquired Bond Girl and actress Carole Bouquet’s Pantelleria estate, home to the ultra-rare Sangue d’Oro. “We want to breathe new life into this land,” CEO Riccardo Pasqua told db.
The development comes during Pasqua’s centenary year and builds on the family-owned winery’s commitment to innovation, quality and cultural heritage.
“Over the last 10 years, our winery has accelerated innovation, demonstrating how interpretations that were initially considered bold and ‘radical’ have been able to capture the attention of critics and the public, quickly becoming established realities in the wine scene,” said Riccardo Pasqua, CEO of Pasqua Wines told db. “Our company’s desire is to recount, with a distinctive voice, original and visionary wine projects, supporting them with our know-how and the solidity consolidated over 100 years of history.”
Preserving a unique viticultural legacy
Pantelleria’s traditional bush vines and ancestral techniques are recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The island’s rugged terroir has long demanded skill, hard work and respect. Once producing 450,000 quintals of grapes in the 1970s, output had fallen to 28,000 quintals by the early 2000s, reflecting the fragility of its agricultural landscape.
Twenty years ago, Bouquet purchased a 12-hectare estate on the island, of which 3.6 hectares are planted with Moscato d’Alessandria (Zibibbo) vines of up to 80 years old. Her use of traditional drying techniques led to the creation of Sangue d’Oro, a Passito wine that quickly gained critical acclaim.
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“This project is a little gem that fits perfectly into our vision and trajectory of value growth,” said Pasqua. “The beauty of these vineyards, the charm of the island and the savoir-faire consolidated by Carole Bouquet over the years make it a unique opportunity for us. Together with Carole, we want to preserve, give voice to and breathe new life into this land.”
A shared vision for the future
Sangue d’Oro is produced in Contrada Serraglia in terraced vineyards, protected by dry stone walls and set on soils composed of 70% volcanic rock and 30% clay and limonite. The grapes are hand-harvested, dried naturally for two to three weeks and then vinified in stainless steel before bottling.
“This passing of the baton also signifies a union of intentions, such as preserving a wine gem of extraordinary value,” said Bouquet. “A new phase of growth and development is beginning for this wine because the Pasqua family will continue to interpret, with new strength but the same spirit, the excellence expressed by the artisans of Pantelleria.”
Pasqua intends to promote Sangue d’Oro as a versatile wine for the entire meal, not just dessert, in keeping with its unconventional approach to fine wine. “The Pantelleria project is a visionary one, consistent with the philosophy that sets us apart: to convey the richness of Italy’s wine heritage with a distinctive voice and style,” said Pasqua.
Pasqua Wines’ portfolio includes several Icon wines that have garnered critical acclaim, such as the Tre Bicchieri-winning Amarone della Valpolicella Terre di Cariano 2018 Cecilia Beretta.
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