The De Bartoli family stands as one of Sicily’s most respected names in wine, renowned for championing the true potential of the island’s unique terroirs. At the heart of their story is Marco De Bartoli, a passionate winemaker who transformed the perception of Sicilian fortified wines and revitalised proud traditions that had nearly faded.

Marco began his career at the large Marsala house Cantine Pellegrino before taking over his mother’s estate in 1980. At a time when Marsala had fallen out of favour and was widely dismissed as a cooking wine, Marco set out to produce a real Marsala with depth, balance and concentration, crafted with the same seriousness as the world’s great fortified wines. His unwavering commitment to quality helped restore Marsala’s reputation both within Italy and internationally.

Marco passed away in 2011, and today the estate is led by his sons Renato and Sebastiano, who continue his legacy while pushing the boundaries of innovation. Under their stewardship, the estate has expanded to include vineyards on the island of Pantelleria, a rugged and ancient terroir long celebrated within Italy but only recently recognized on the global stage, largely thanks to the work of the De Bartoli family.

The fortified wines of Marco De Bartoli are built on traditional solera systems with an average age of up to 40 years, giving them remarkable concentration, complexity and longevity. Alongside these historic styles, the estate produces a range of dry wines that highlight the unique qualities of Sicily’s native varietals. Grillo from Marsala and Zibibbo from Pantelleria are fermented in stainless steel and cold stabilised, delivering wines of purity, freshness and saline mineral tension.

In 2007, Renato and Sebastiano introduced the Integer range as a contrast to the classic dry wines. Made from the same fruit, these wines undergo fermentation and bâtonnage in old oak, resulting in a more textural, savoury expression. They are bottled unfiltered, giving them a distinctive natural cloudiness and an added sense of depth and character.

More recently, the De Bartoli family has launched a new chapter with De Bartoli Etna, a young and energetic project on the northern slopes of Mount Etna in the commune of Castiglione di Sicilia, between Solicchiata and Passopisciaro. The vineyards cover 2.3 hectares at elevations between 743 and 769 metres above sea level. Led by Marco’s son Renato, the Etna project focuses on small volumes of Etna Bianco, Rosato and Rosso that express pure fruit, volcanic minerality and finely layered texture, true to the dramatic soils on which they are grown.

Marco De Bartoli’s legacy is one of respect for tradition, innovation guided by place and an unwavering belief in the expressive power of Sicily. Whether fortified, dry or born from volcanic soils, these wines speak clearly of origin, craftsmanship and quiet authority.