Marco De Bartoli Winery – The Renaissance of Sicilian Wine Heritage
Marco De Bartoli represents the soul of Sicily’s vinous renaissance, an icon of artisanal mastery, historical integrity and unyielding purity. Founded in 1978 by Marco De Bartoli, a visionary who defied convention to restore the faded glory of traditional Marsala, the estate has since become a benchmark for authenticity, excellence and innovation in Italian winemaking.
History & Family Legacy
At a time when Marsala had become synonymous with industrial production and declining quality, Marco De Bartoli courageously resurrected its dignity by returning to historic solera methods, championing indigenous grape varieties, and reestablishing the relevance of terroir in Sicily.
His philosophy was radical in its simplicity: quality over quantity, truth over trend, and wine as a cultural artifact rather than a commercial product.
Today, the estate remains independently family-owned, led by his children, Sebastiano (passed away), Renato and Giuseppina De Bartoli who uphold the family’s commitment to craftsmanship, ecological balance and emotional precision. Under their stewardship, each bottle becomes a living narrative of Marco’s revolutionary vision.
Vineyard Sites & Terroir
The winery operates across two dramatically distinct and expressive terroirs:
• Samperi Estate (Marsala, Western Sicily): The original family estate and spiritual home of the De Bartoli project, dedicated to Grillo-based wines and unfortified oxidative Marsala. The site’s limestone-rich soils, warmed by Sicily’s sun and tempered by sea breezes, deliver tensile, saline, and age-worthy wines of profound character.
• Bukkuram Estate (Pantelleria Island): A volcanic amphitheater facing Africa, where terraced vineyards of ancient Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria) are cultivated for the iconic Passito di Pantelleria. Here, lava-rich soils and intense sun yield wines of magnificent aromatic depth and natural sweetness, rooted in centuries-old traditions.
All vineyards are organically farmed, with biodynamic principles increasingly embraced. Low yields and manual harvesting ensure that each grape reflects its origin with purity and precision.
Winemaking Philosophy
De Bartoli’s cellar practices are minimalist yet deeply philosophical, designed to preserve the integrity of each vineyard and variety. Fermentations proceed exclusively with native yeasts, with no enzymes, fining agents or synthetic interventions.
Aging regimes are meticulously tailored, using neutral oak, ancient chestnut barrels, stainless steel or amphorae, always in service of expressing the wine’s soul rather than shaping it.
Each cuvée is crafted as a contemplative meditation on grape, place and time, never rushed, never forced, always authentic.
Marco De Bartoli is not merely a winery, it is a philosophy in motion, a family legacy etched into the stone and soil of Sicily. Each bottle bears witness to authenticity, cultural identity, and the purest expression of terroir.
From unfortified Marsala and volcanic Zibibbo whites, to meditative reds and noble sweet wines, the De Bartoli portfolio stands as one of the most profound and poetic reflections of Italy’s vinous diversity.
“To drink De Bartoli is to drink the soul of Sicily, timeless, honest, and unforgettable.”
