Donnafugata was founded in Sicily by an enterprising family with 150 years experience in premium wines. Giacomo Rallo and his wife Gabriella, together with their daughter José and their son Antonio, are engaged in an entrepreneurial project with a focus on attention to details to make wines that correspond increasingly more to the potential of this area.

The Donnafugata adventure began in the Rallo family’s historic cellars in Marsala in 1983 and in its Contessa Entellina vineyards, in the heart of western Sicily. In 1989, Donnafugata arrived on the island of Pantelleria, beginning  its production of naturally sweet wines.

Donnafugata wines are a passionate interpretation of Sicily and its sensorial universe. Donnafugata seeks excellence in premium wine by taking painstaking care over detail: in its vineyards, in its wine cellars, in its relationship with the environment. Extreme Quality is the entrepreneurial style which reflects the company philosophy. The ancient cellars of the family are the heart and the strategic business center where take place refinements and bottling of the wines of Donnafugata.

The Marsala cellars, built in 1851, are a living example of industrial archaeology. The layout of the ‘Baglio’, a typical Sicilian structure where wine is made, has been retained and features a spacious courtyard adorned with citrus and olive trees, as well as trussed wooden ceilings, the work of master carpenters of bygone times. Today, it houses a dynamic, productive enterprise which strives for excellence. This is where the products of Contessa Entellina and Pantelleria converge for refinement (in steel, cement and oak) and  bottling. These processes are conducted with simple technologies that respect the intrinsic qualities of the musts and wines. Since temperature control is so important to every production stage, the cellars have air-conditioned, insulated rooms for maximum energy savings. Also in line with the winery’s environmental policies, the underground barrique room is carved from tuff (porous volcanic rock).

The Contessa Entellina winery is located in the charming countryside of western Sicily, where vineyards are an integral part of the landscape. A plurality of both native and international grape varieties are grown in 7 different districts, Contessa Entellina (Mazzaporro, Duchessa, Miccina, Casale Bianco, Arcera), Sambuca di Sicilia (Pandolfina), Santa Margherita Belice (Predicatore). An agronomic choice that aims at enhancing the characteristics of the different “terroirs” (soil, elevation, exposure)and different varieties to produce rich and complex wines.

Donnafugata welcomes the curious and lovers of wine throughout the year at its headquarter of Marsala, where you can take guided tours through the old cellars and the new underground barrel cellar, wine tasting combining them with the typical dishes of Sicilian cuisine. It will be possible, during summer, to visit the estate of Contessa Entellina.