During a walk across the volcanic slopes of Lipari in 2005, Massimo Lentsch and Stefania Frattolillo discovered their true calling.
Tenuta di Castellaro was born from that moment – today, the family from Bergamo cultivates
rare grape varieties such as Malvasia delle Lipari and Corinto Nero at an altitude of 350 metres. Rooted in pumice, obsidian and kaolin, the wines possess a remarkable mineral clarity. The 24 hectares combine heroic viticulture with traditional albarello bush training and
organic farming.
Volcanic alchemy between sky and sea
On the
Piana di Castellaro, conditions turn winegrowing into a heroic journey. At 350 metres, three volcanic rocks shape the terroir:
pumice lends elegance, obsidian mineral sharpness and
kaolin creamy fullness. Massimo Lentsch named his wines after these geological treasures; Pomice, Ossidiana and Caolino tell the story of their origin. Here the Lentsch family grows
Malvasia delle Lipari and other indigenous varieties, perfectly adapted to the extreme climate between sea breezes and volcanic heat.
A cellar master with Etna DNA and modern gravity
Since 2016
oenologist Emiliano Falsini has orchestrated the winemaking, a globetrotter who honed his craft at Robert Mondavi and Villa Maria. At his side works
cellar master Sebastiano, who brought his volcanic know-how to Lipari after 20 years on Etna. This link to Europe's largest volcano is also reflected in Massimo's membership of
I Vigneri di Salvo Foti, the almost 600-year-old winegrowers' brotherhood that preserves traditional growing methods on Etna. The bioclimatic cellar works purely by gravity and respects the fragile grapes from arrival to bottling.
Heroic handwork and rare grape treasures
Every vine is trained in the
traditional alberello system, free-standing without wires, a legacy of Greek antiquity. This "heroic viticulture" demands pure handwork on terraces that can only be reached on foot. Carricante and Nero d'Avola thrive alongside the regal Malvasia delle Lipari, while the
rare Corinto Nero, a variety close to extinction, is enjoying a renaissance here. The 24 hectares of organically farmed vineyards deliberately produce only 70,000 bottles a year.
Wines between minerality and meditation
The portfolio ranges from crystalline freshness to sweet perfection.
Bianco Pomice embodies the mineral clarity of pumice, while the blend
Ypsilon distils the complexity of the terroir. The crowning glory is the
Malvasia delle Lipari DOC Passito, a sweet wine of meditative depth, marked by
volcanic fire and the sound of the sea.
