Is it possible to bring one forgotten Sicilian grape back to life? With passion, persistence and science, the answer is a resounding yes.
Since August of 2025, when Italy’s Official Gazette published the new Terre Siciliane IGT regulations, winemakers can proudly display “Orisi” on their labels. This is a historical first, made possible by the hard work and dedication of the Santa Tresa winery, spear headed by owner Stefano Girelli.
Before this recognition, Santa Tresa’s wine made from the grape could only be called “O”, its true identity whispered among those in the know. With the rule change, the estate celebrated by releasing “O – Orisi Rosso IGP Bio,” a limited edition that honors the grape’s long-awaited
This breakthrough was not overnight. Back in 2009, Santa Tresa, in partnership with the University of Palermo, began an impressive campo sperimentale (experimental vineyard) venture to bring ancient indigenous Sicilian grapes back from obscurity. Orisi was one of these varietals and to date their biggest success.
Santa Tresa
Today, Santa Tresa is the only estate in Sicily cultivating Orisi, with a mere 1,523 vines rooted in their organic vineyards. Research led by owner Stefano Girelli has shown that Orisi is exceptionally resistant to both peronospera (downy mildew) and drought, challenges that have tested many growers in recent years. Its hardiness positions it as a sustainable, future-proof variety for the island’s evolving climate.
Other rediscovered types, like Albanello, a local white grape exhibiting renewed potential, are yielding equally encouraging results for Girelli and his colleagues at The Wine People (TWP). Restoring Sicily’s historic varietal diversity and promoting grapes that are genuinely indigenous to the region’s soil and climate are their clear goals.
The resurgence of Orisi is more than just a viticultural triumph; it is evidence of Santa Tresa’s conviction that authenticity and sustainability go hand in hand and that the future of Sicilian wine depends on its ability to remember its roots.