Criante, Grillo G23

Criante is the result of generations of farming making a bold, smart turn. Located in Alcamo, in western Sicily’s Trapani province, it’s a certified organic, polyculture estate run by Davide Adragna and Irene Figlia. Their first vintage as Criante landed in 2019, but the roots of their land and passion go back much further.

What sets them apart is how they blur winery walls with everyday life- alongside their vineyards, they grow olives, legumes, heirloom Sicilian grains, produce eggs and even run a small food and wine shop in Alcamo, Sicili Bottega Biologica, where you’ll find their bottles alongside like minded Sicilian goodies.

Their vineyards stretch across two contrasting plots: Contrada Modica, with sandy soils nearing the coast, and Contrada Valle sitting inland on clay-rich ground. Both are part of the Alcamo DOC, but Criante opts to label under IGP Terre Siciliane or DOC Sicilia, choosing freedom over traditional constraints that would require them to fine, filter, or otherwise lose the raw honesty they prize.

Everything here is woven in by hand- grapes are picked manually, fermented with native yeasts and see zero additions or alterations. Sulphur use is kept minimal and well below 50 mg/L for whites and 30 mg/L for reds. There is also no use of clarifying agents or technical manipulation. Each wine is allowed to reflect its place without polish or show.

Criante isn’t just farming a vineyard, they’re quietly redefining what Sicilian natural wine can be with some creativity and imagination that starts in the vineyards and spills into the table. It’s value, tradition and terroir without pretence.