• My name is Marilena Barbera
    and I am a winegrower.
    I live and craft my wines in Menfi, Sicily.

MICROCOSMO

MICROCOSMO

PERRICONE MENFI DOC

Vineyards are complex ecosystems where vegetals, animals, insects and an endless diversity of microorganisms live together in perfect harmony.

They are sensitive environments that any human intervention must understand and respect, trying to adapt itself to the rhythms of nature.

The vineyard of Microcosmo is the proof of a possible natural equilibrium created by a harmonic varietal interdependence that generates energy and life.

COSTE AL VENTO

COSTE AL VENTO

GRILLO MENFI DOC

Coste al Vento means “windy hills”, where Mediterranean breeze brings minerals to the soil and refreshment to vines and people.

Here I grow the Grillo, a native intriguing variety that embodies the inner character of Menfi's terroir with its unmistakable style and unique charm.

Son of a generous land, Coste al Vento delights the palate with a tasty and ripe fruit that melts into saline fragrances, and profits from a prolonged skin contact in amphoras that enhances the wine’s full and intense personality.

DIETRO LE CASE

DIETRO LE CASE

INZOLIA MENFI DOC

The old vines of Inzolia planted by my father 60 years ago "behind the houses" of Tenuta Belicello are both my heritage and my future.

Those native clones, having wonderfully adapted to the micro-climatic conditions of the Belìce Valley, perfectly embody the remarkable wineproducing culture of Menfi’s terroir.

The soil is calcareous, rich of limestones, and it greatly influences the grapes' aromatic profile, providing the wine an intense yet delicate minerality that leads to the development of a remarkable complexity and exquisite finesse.

LA BAMBINA

LA BAMBINA

ROSATO MENFI DOC

La Bambina celebrates strong women: their energy, resilience and instinctive ability to navigate complexity with grace, bringing empathy and determination to everything around them.

It's the wine that I made against all advises that there was no future for such a rosé in the market and beyond expectation, at the winery and outside.

It is a pleasant expression of Nero d’Avola, which grapes are harvested at night to preserve their freshest aromas, and to give birth to a very exciting wine that reflects the personality of Menfi's terroir.

CIÀTU

CIÀTU

ALICANTE MENFI DOC

Alicante is a Spanish grape that was introduced in Sicily during the dominations of the XV-XVI centuries. Grown in several Mediterranean regions, it is also known as Garnacha, Grenache and Cannonau.

I love how the Alicante is influenced by the unique microclimate in Menfi, where the sea brine enhances the grapes' fruity flavors and underlines their natural acidity, enriching the wine's personality with a special saline touch.

Ciàtu in Sicilian means breath: it is pure love for my land, for the energy of sunshine, for the generosity of the earth, and for the innermost breath of life.

More Articles ...

My story

My story

Three generations of winegrowers at Tenuta Belicello: a century-long legacy of love and respect
Wine book

Wine book

Always up-to-date with all available wines and vintages: ready for browsing, or for immediate download

Photo album

Photo album

Snapshots of wine and vines, earth and sky, available for download in HR - please cite the source

Video gallery

Video gallery

My YouTube channel sharing life at the estate, harvest stories, special events and wine tastings

NEWS FROM THE BLOG

Between a road map and a winery notebook, a personal digital moleskine with notes on winemaking, tastings and events, people I meet, places I see: my everyday life in the wine world.

  • Menfi DOC: Wine and Terroir

    Menfi DOC: Wine and Terroir

    The DOC Menfi Appellation: from history to landscapes, and from climate to grape varieties, everything you need to know about one of the most interesting wine regions of Sicily.

    Read more

  • Zibibbo, a story of Sicilian identity

    Zibibbo, a story of Sicilian identity

    Zibibbo is one of the rarest grapes in the word with a triple attitude: it is a wine grape, a table grape and a raisin grape. Learn about its long history that dates back 5.000 years.

    Read more

  • What wine producers can do for climate change

    What wine producers can do for climate change

    Electricity is a significant expenditure items in a winery’s budget, and it has a great environmental impact. My energy-related choices make my winery 100% sustainable.

    Read more

  • Wild yeast and the miracle of life

    Wild yeast and the miracle of life

    Wild yeast and spontaneous fermentations, key points of the natural wine movement, are linked to Mediterranean traditions that remain a source of inspiration for winegrowers all over the world.

    Read more

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