Tenuta Gatto

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About Winery and Wines

The Gatto family’s Conti farm has ancient roots, shaped by hard work, sacrifice, and the fortunes of history — from the family mill that once produced flour to the episode of a viper bite that marked the early days on this land.

In 2007, this legacy inspired Matteo and his eldest son, Santi, to establish the Gatto farm. They uprooted the old vineyard and replaced it with a modern planting of native varieties from the Faro DOC area, creating the wine “Chiano Conti.”

In 2017, the estate was passed from Matteo to Santi, officially becoming Tenuta Gatto. Two years later, in 2019, production began of Ardalia, an IGT white wine made from the white vinification of Nerello Mascalese. In 2020, Mussarussi was born — a traditional aromatized wine from Messina.

Santi oversees every stage of winemaking: from vineyard work to the creation of the final wine, and its promotion and sale. The vineyard lies at 450 meters above sea level in the Peloritani Mountains, in a valley with stunning views over the Strait of Messina. With slopes exceeding 30% and more than 40 terraces, cultivation is truly heroic and entirely manual.

The estate follows organic practices, using natural substances and limiting chemical treatments. Green pruning is carried out to reduce excess bunches and shoots, improving quality and helping protect the vines from pests.

The winery is located in the basement of a building, where a dedicated space welcomes visitors searching for authentic artisanal wines, inspired by the “Vins de Garage” concept.

We produce 3 wines:

Chiano Conti DOC Faro, red wine

Varieties: 50% Nerello Mascalese, 30% Nerello Cappuccio, 15% Nero d'Avola, 5% Nocera.

Vinification: Traditional red wine, long maceration at a controlled temperature with gentle pressing.

Aging: Initially in steel silos, followed by approximately one year in new and used tonneaux, and a third period in bottle. We currently offer the 2015 vintage.

Tasting Notes: The wine is clear, with a deep, consistent ruby ​​red color. On the nose, it expresses intensity, good complexity, and finesse, with floral notes of red rose and geranium, notes of ripe red fruit and jam, blackberries, cherries, black cherries, and spicy notes of black pepper and cinnamon, along with some mineral notes. The wine is full-bodied, balanced, intense on the palate, soft, with good persistence and finesse.

Pairings: Roast or stewed meat dishes with Mediterranean flavors, game, and mature hard or semi-hard cheeses.

Ardalìa IGT Terre Siciliane White Wine

Variety: 100% Nerello Mascalese.

Winery: This wine is made with 100% Nerello Mascalese grapes. After pressing, the free-run must is extracted and fermented at a controlled temperature for 10 days.

Aging: In stainless steel for at least 6 months, followed by bottle aging. We currently offer the 2021 vintage.

Tasting Notes: The wine is crystal clear and beautifully lively, with a deep and consistent straw yellow color. On the nose, it expresses complex aromas of fruit, flowers, and minerals, with a light herbaceous spiciness and numerous citrus notes (grapefruit, lemon, lemongrass, hints of tropical fruit, orange blossom, broom, iodine, metallic notes, pink pepper, sage, thyme, and wet grass). On the palate, it is refined, dry, warm, quite smooth, savory, full-bodied, balanced, intense, and persistent.

Pairings: Ardalìa lends itself to a variety of pairings with seafood dishes, even rather elaborate ones, but can also accompany particularly structured and flavorful dishes. Recommended with peppered mussels or "ghiotta di pesce stocco," a typical dish from Messina.

Mussarussi aromatized wine,
produced according to a traditional family recipe from Messina.

Varieties: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Nero d'Avola, Nocera.

Cellar: Obtained from the fermentation of fresh must with cooked must flavored with black cherry leaves, carob, dried figs, and unripe mandarins.

Aging: 6 months in wood on the lees.

We currently offer the 2022 vintage.

Tasting Notes: Translucent amber color with good consistency in the glass. A sweet array of baroque aromas and sensations reminiscent of carob, dried figs with walnuts, quince, and cloves. On the palate, it has an enveloping softness, well-tempered by a hint of acidity that supports its good structure. The aftertaste is rich, with a pleasant return of the sensations already perceived on the nose and a pleasantly bitterish finish.