Tradition and Innovation
Our vineyards lie at the intersection of the ‘mare nostrum’ and the elevated, windswept hills of Salemi. The eye wanders across hectares of land, stretching to the horizon, while the constant wind carries a subtle saltiness that envelops the plants nestled between 200 and 450 meters above sea level. Housed within an ancient Baglio (farmhouse) constructed of yellow tuff in 1904 and subsequently renovated in Marsala, our winery features reception areas, a wine bar, a shop, tasting rooms, and a barrel cellar. Here, our grapes are transformed into high-quality wines, surrounded by the iconic scents of lemon, pomegranate, carob, olive, and aloe.
Operating within a precious pedoclimatic context, we cultivate our vines according to certified organic agriculture and adhere to the Equalitas certification regulation, which recognizes companies that prioritize social and environmental responsibility, transparency, and ethics as cornerstones of their strategy. Among the rows, you’ll find flowers and plants that attract pollinators, facilitating soil aeration in line with our green philosophy.
The hinterland soil, calcareous-clayey and rich in small stones, protects the roots from excessive heat and is conducive to limited productivity, not exceeding 80 quintals per hectare. Drawing on generations of experience, our aim is to imbue the centuries-old wines of our region with a modern expression, always staying attuned to contemporary tastes.
Marsala
Marcus Tullius Cicero famously described Lilibeum (the ancient name of Marsala) as ‘Pulcherrima sed ventosa’—”beautiful but windy.” This Sicilian city, situated on the westernmost tip of the island, lies along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, atop ancient Punic ruins, in a region that has witnessed historic clashes between civilizations. Bathed in sunlight for 300 days a year, Marsala was home to Cicero’s own school of rhetoric, established within the small and intimate Schola, located on the island of San Pantaleo in the Stagnone lagoon, alongside Isola Grande, Santa Maria, and Mothia, enriching the natural and cultural heritage of the Trapani area.
The Stagnone, designated a nature reserve in 1984, comprises the largest archipelago of islands in Sicily, including the “Saline” (salt evaporation ponds), a system of salt collection invented by the Phoenicians. Marsala, a masterpiece of landscape, overlooks the Egadi archipelago (Favignana, Marettimo, and Levanzo), renowned as a “beautiful and windy” land, where vast vineyards have been cultivated by generations of winemakers. The unique microclimate of this region imbues the grapes with a sweet, high-quality flavor, perfect for producing fine wines.
The Caruso family cellar is housed in an ancient “Baglio” (farmhouse) dating back to 1904, where wines reflect the synthesis of four generations of winemaking expertise. These wines are marketed through collaboration with Minini and a marketing company from Northern Italy. Produced in hilly areas where the land is carefully tended, they boast a concentration of unique aromas and flavors. These wines embrace innovation while remaining deeply rooted in the millennia-old terroir and the Mediterranean climate that envelops them.
Salemi
Salemi is nestled amidst the vineyards and olive groves of the Belice Valley, situated in the heart of the Mazara Valley. With its medieval charm, this city flourished during Arab domination, known then as Alicia, and became renowned for its picturesque old town brimming with architectural treasures, including historic buildings, the basilica of San Miceli, and the Jewish and Islamic quarters. The Norman castle, erected atop an ancient Greek-Roman fortress, offers breathtaking vistas of the surrounding landscape, encompassing the Rose Mount, verdant hillsides, rural fields, and the myriad hues of the Mediterranean sea.
The economy of Salemi is predominantly reliant on agriculture and the marketing of wine production, owing to the calcareous-clayey-siliceous soil prevalent in the region. Caruso & Minini has garnered extensive expertise in crafting high-quality wines in the Salemi area, where the abundant sunshine, warmth, and sea breezes serve to moderate temperatures and alleviate nighttime humidity. The winery is steadfast in its commitment to preserving the natural equilibrium of the vineyards, the surrounding environment, and the fertility of the soil, resulting in wines of unparalleled quality.
Stefano Caruso e Mario Minini
The Historical family of wine and the new generations
The Caruso family has a longstanding tradition in grape cultivation and sales, dating back to the mid-twentieth century. It wasn’t until the late nineties, however, that they were able to oversee the entire production chain, from cultivation to bottling. This achievement was made possible by the third generation of Caruso winemakers, in conjunction with the Minini entrepreneurs from Brescia, who share a deep passion for Sicily. Today, thanks to this collaboration, high-quality wines are produced and distributed in approximately 40 countries, making them a true oenological treasure of the island.
The Minini family, with strong ties to the wine market and a rich tradition of marketing in Verolanuova, played a pivotal role in the winery’s success. Stefano, Francesco, and Roberto Caruso, representing the third generation of winemakers, realized their grandfather Nino’s dream of bottling wine. Currently, the winery is managed by nieces Rosanna and Giovanna, supported by Rosanna’s husband, Andrea, injecting new ideas and energy into the family business. Caruso & Minini epitomizes the perfect blend of tradition and modernity, transforming history into every glass of wine.
People
Giovanna Caruso
Giovanna is meticulous yet slightly twentieth-century in her love for pen and paper. She studied in Pavia and worked for a few years as a lawyer, before realizing that she was wasting her time away from the family’s vineyards.
Stefano Caruso
An agronomist, he loves driving boats and tractors. He is very talkative, except perhaps when he smokes his pipe. He has also lived in Milan and worked in Provence; his idol is Paolo Borsellino, a celebrated judge, murdered by the mafia in the nineties.
Rosanna Caruso
Rosanna graduated in management engineering at Pisa University; her talent for numbers and planning creates a sense of fear and reverence around her, as if she was an oracle. Her poodle is almost as curly as she is.
Andrea Artusio
He comes from the Piedmont region. Before marrying Giovanna and following her to Marsala, he was a pharmacist and a party boy. His ability to start a conversation with anyone has remained unchanged from North to South. He did swear to never work with his wife or his father-in-law. Things turned out differently.
The Winery and its origins
Our history speaks of land, sun, dedication, and, above all, passion. It all began in the 1900s, when Francesco Caruso discovered that the lands of Trapani were particularly conducive to vine cultivation. The soil, altitude, exposure, and microclimatic conditions all contributed significantly to the quality of the grapes. This vision was fully realized by his son Nino. After a few years, Nino took the helm of the family business, skillfully navigating the seasons, attentively listening to the vineyards, and ultimately producing high-quality wines.
In the early 2000s, the dream of preserving tradition in a bottle came to fruition through a serendipitous encounter between Nino’s sons—Stefano, Roberto, and Francesco—and Mario and Francesco Minini, proprietors of a distribution company based in Northern Italy. Together, they established the Caruso & Minini winery, setting up their own cellar in the historic family estate in the heart of the Marsala wine sub-area. The blend of artisanal expertise and entrepreneurial acumen has enabled this winery to become an ambassador of quality labels in approximately 40 countries worldwide, showcasing the beauty of Sicilian wines.