Posted on 06/18/2012
Built in tufo stone by Vincenzo Florio in 1832, the Florio cellars in Marsala reflect the typically anglo-saxon style of that time, with wide arched windows and compressed tufo powder flooring. The central building, covering an area of 44,000 square metres, represents the heart of the production of marsala: in the past, ships of the Florio sailing company set off from here loaded with the precious nectar and it is here today that the world’s most famous marsala wine is produced. The 6,000 square metres of the production cellars host the production processes of the marsala, which is then refined in the historic barrels jealously guarded in the 7,400 square metres of the refining department. These historical buildings surprise the visitor with their beauty: 165 metres in length for each aisle with no less than 104 arches, under which are lines of 1,400 kegs and 600 or so casks and vats of varying sizes. Florio’s winery is a unique space that combines history and tradition with the future. The winery’s modernly designed spaces set the tone for a different approach to tastings, a real experience that goes beyond a simple moment of pleasure. In 2011, the Florio Winery was further enriched by the addition of the Donna Franca Florio tasting room, an innovative space where tradition meets modernity. In 2012, the winery will inaugurate a wine shop on premises. Florio: an unexpected world Sweet Sparkling wine – new in 2012 Florio’s versatile world comprised of marsala, fortified wines, and passito wine is now enriched of a special product, Florio Sweet sparkling wine. An aromatic experience with a flourish of mediterranean flavours and citrus nuances, Florio is characterised by a cheerful and elegant image and is produced with the winery’s signature craftsmanship of exclusivity and excellence in winemaking. Moscato grapes from Sicily’s mid-west regions, hand harvested and worked with the Charmat method, produce a lively and fresh wine, an unexpected world the brings together quality and particular care for the product with an elegant, fresh and glamorous style.