Marabino - “Eureka” Sicilian Lands White 2021

Company history

Marabino is an organic winery located in the Noto area of ​​southeastern Sicily (Syracuse province). Founded in the early 2000s, the winery was born from a project to enhance the ideal terroirs of the Pachino area and the Eloro-Noto DOC, historically home to Nero d'Avola and Moscato.
With approximately 30 hectares of vineyards in the Contrada Buonivini (Pachino) countryside, Marabino immediately adopted biodynamic cultivation, quickly becoming a benchmark for natural wines in the area. The name "Marabino" refers to the Marabino district where part of the vineyards are located. Today, the winery is run by the Timbro family (owner Angelo Timbro) with a young and motivated team, committed to the original production philosophy.

Production philosophy

Marabino's philosophy is "wines according to nature": the company practices certified organic farming and strictly adheres to biodynamic principles in the vineyards. This means using only copper and sulfur as pesticides (minimized), biodynamic preparations to stimulate soil vitality, and no synthetic chemicals. The winery maintains a commitment to naturalness: spontaneous fermentations with indigenous yeasts, no added sulfites (or only minimal doses during bottling), and no aggressive filtration or fining. The winery's design was also conceived according to eco-friendly criteria. Marabino strongly believes in biodiversity: in addition to vines, the company cultivates olive groves (producing extra virgin olive oil) and crops, and raises several farmyard animals, integrating a complete agricultural ecosystem. The declared mission is "to cultivate the flavor, aroma, and authenticity of Sicilian products", recovering local traditions (such as "perpetual" fermentation and prolonged aging for some oxidative wines) and at the same time innovating with non-interventionist techniques.

Cultivated vines

The grape varieties grown are predominantly native to southeastern Sicily. For red wines, Nero d'Avola dominates, the flagship variety of Pachino and Eloro, to which Marabino dedicates its most important selections. There is also room for Perricone (a rare but traditional variety in western Sicily, which the winery is experimenting with on a small scale) and a few rows of Syrah, adapted to the local climate.

Among the whites, the lion's share goes to Moscato Bianco di Noto (Moscato di Siracusa), used for both naturally sweet wines and original dry vinifications. Marabino also cultivates several selected Chardonnay clones, acclimated to the microclimate of Contrada Buonivini, from which it produces a structured and long-lived white. Finally, the winery owns ancient Grillo and Catarratto bush vines, evidence of the wide variety of historic grapes present in the Val di Noto. All vineyards are densely planted and trained either espalier or bush vines, with very low yields (40-60 quintals/ha) to concentrate quality.

Production areas

Marabino operates in the Noto ed Eloro DOC area (Pachino area and surrounding municipalities, in the southern tip of Sicily).

The vineyards are located in Contrada Buonivini and surrounding areas, on well-exposed limestone-clay hills. The climate is typically Mediterranean, with mild winters and very sunny, dry summers—we are in the sunniest area in Europe, with almost always clear skies. The soils vary significantly, ranging from white limestone soils to black clay soils rich in minerals (iron, magnesium). This diverse soil composition allows Marabino to produce distinctive crus. The winery owns vineyards within the Eloro DOC (designation for dry Nero d'Avola) and vineyards for the Noto DOC (both sweet and dry Moscato di Noto). Some historic parcels—such as the Lenza Lunga, Conca, Coniglio, and Don Paolo districts—are vinified separately (Rosso di Contrada) to enhance the terroir's nuances. The winery is located not far from the Vendicari Reserve and the Ionian coast: sea breezes help keep the grapes healthy, reducing the risk of fungal infections.

Wines

Marabino is known for a range of high-quality terroir wines. Leading the line is "Archimede," a pure Nero d'Avola from old bush-trained vines on limestone soils: a powerful and complex red with aromas of black cherry, oriental spices, and Mediterranean scrub, a multiple award-winning wine. Alongside it is "Rosso di Contrada," a Nero d'Avola blended from the estate's various parcels (70% Nero d'Avola, 30% other indigenous grapes such as Frappato or Perricone), an entry-level wine that expresses the terroir's freshness.

Another flagship is the Moscato della Torre Noto DOC: a concentrated and aromatic Moscato Bianco passito from the vineyard surrounding the company's ancient tower, which in 2020 earned Bibenda's Cinque Grappoli award. Marabino also produces a biodynamic rosé called "Rosa Nera" (made from Nero d'Avola grapes, partially vinified as a white wine), fragrant and versatile for pairing. Among the dry whites, "Muscatedda" (a dry, floral, and mineral Moscato Bianco) and "Eureka" (a blend of Chardonnay and Moscato, fermented in stainless steel, with vibrant acidity) stand out.

Also noteworthy is the "Terre" line: Terre Argillose and Terre Calcaree are two Nero d'Avolas vinified separately from different soils to highlight their impact on the wine. The portfolio is rounded out by a few limited-production reserves, such as "Soleggiato Perpetuo," a sweet oxidative wine made using the perpetual method (solera) from overripe grapes, a tribute to the ancient tradition of Sicilian perpetual wines.

Relevant awards or recognitions

Marabino, despite being relatively young, has received the praise of guides and competitions.

The 2020 Moscato della Torre was awarded the Cinque Grappoli (Five Grapes) award in the 2022 Bibenda guide, being listed among Italy's excellent sweet wines. The estate's red wines regularly appear on the regional Tre Bicchieri list:
Archimede Nero d'Avola boasts this recognition for several vintages and the magazine Civiltà del Bere has highlighted it as one of the best Nero d'Avolas in Sicily.

Marabino has also won awards abroad: the Decanter World Wine Awards awarded silver medals to its wines, highlighting their stylistic purity.

The Slow Wine guide has often cited Marabino among the "Vino Slow" wineries for their respect for the land. Special recognition came from Bibenda 2023, which included Marabino among the Wineries of the Year in Sicily, praising its consistent production and commitment to biodynamics. Finally, Marabino wines have received high scores (90+ points) from magazines such as Wine Enthusiast and Vinous. These accolades confirm Marabino as an emerging leader in Sicilian winemaking.

Curiosity

The names of some cuvées pay homage to science and tradition. For example, "Archimede" recalls the famous Syracusan scientist, while "Eureka" evokes his famous exclamation, suggesting the discovery of a new taste. Marabino has also focused on art: the labels of certain wines feature illustrations by local artists depicting native fauna and flora (such as the Sicilian black bee and the carob tree), reaffirming the connection to the land.

In its communications, the company emphasizes its membership in the Triple “A” circuit (Farmers, Artisans, Artists), a guarantee of naturalness and craftsmanship in the winemaking sector.