La Chiocciola aka The Snail shows up in Menfi on my twentysecond harvest.

This is not the usual medal awarded to a good wine, but rather to a production philosophy, summarized by the three concepts of Good, Clean and Fair: quality food and wines that respect the ecosystems and the people who work there.

It's the first Snail in Menfi, and also the first to reach the province of Agrigento.
It is an amazing award for us, for what we have accomplished since my father founded Cantine Barbera, back in 2000 - and most of all it is rewarding for a territory that has long remained off the radar, as far as a certain type of viticulture and wine making is concerned. 

I also believe that The Snail carries great responsibility in a large territory made up of thousands of hectars planted with vineyards, thousands of viticulturists and very few who transform grapes into wine, because it identifies those who get it as a point of reference for those who want to take the same path: to make wine and not just grapes, a wine that is good, clean and sustainable, produced without oenological shortcuts. A wine that stands out for representing these values ​​and the land where it is born, proudly declaring Menfi on its label.

I am convinced that I would not exist as wine producer without my terroir, and that I would not have achieved tangible results on my own.
Wine does not only belong to those who make it, it does not grow on the moon nor in a cultural desert: this is why I would like to give credit to many people that have enriched my life choice of being a winemaker: to my amazing team, to Luca and mom who always have my back, to the farmers who practice organic, biodynamic and conservative viticulture, thus respecting and protecting the place where we all live, to the restaurant people who choose quality produces and support small producers, to the sommeliers and those who promote artisanal and natural wine every day, spreading culture and awareness. 

I am also happy that Coste al Vento Grillo 2021, obviously a Menfi DOC wine, was awarded the Vino Slow prize. 
We will taste it on October 8th, at the Slow Wine tasting in Milan.
More details will be published at  www.slowfood.it/slowine/ soon.