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Valeria and Serena: Palmento Costanzo is a woman!
Palmento Costanzo is a winery with a profoundly feminine soul.
Just like the “female” territory where the winery stands, in Passopisciaro in Contrada Santo Spirito: we are on the western side of the Etna, which Sicilians fondly call «’A Muntagna». More than ten years have passed since its foundation and the winery has grown thanks to Valeria Agosta. She has recently been joined by her daughter Serena, who is completing her studies in Viticulture and Enology at the University of Montpellier.
Who are Valeria and Serena? Let’s get to know them better.
VALERIA AGOSTA
Before being a winemaker, I am a mother to Serena and Giuseppe, my two children. Perhaps, it is this “natural condition” that has taught me to take good care of what I really love. The passion for wine has become an essential part of our family: a captivating interest that prompted us to travel the world, taste numerous wines and pursue the dream of «making the wine we’d like to drink». This is how we came across the Palmento in Contrada Santo Spirito, on the slopes of the Etna.
For someone who comes from Catania, the Etna has a magnetic force: just one touch and I was completely captivated. We started with just over five hectares, replacing all vineyards and restoring the 19th-century Palmento, an authentic rural masterpiece. The first harvest, in 2011, yielded Nero di Sei Etna Doc Rosso, made from Nerello Mascalese and Cappuccio growing on chestnut wood poles. This wine remains close to my heart: it is the fruit of our hard work, and we can consider it as my «third child».
SERENA COSTANZO
Wine has always been a part of me. I remember how my parents preferred visiting wineries before seeing museums whenever we travelled! Perhaps, this is why, years later, while studying Economics, a lesson in plant biology prompted me to switch my course. I started studying Agricultural Sciences and Technologies in Catania, where I eventually graduated, and then I continued my studies in Asti, specializing in Viticulture and Enology. I’m currently in the second year of my Master’s degree and I am leaving for Montpellier to earn a double degree in Enology, Viticulture and Wine Market.
I can’t wait to work in winemaking once I finish my studies! I’ve always been on the move – my mom would say that I am someone who «can’t stand still» – and I would like to challenge myself and do some experiments.
My favorite wine? Contrada Santo Spirito Etna Doc Rosso. I saw this label come to life as my passion for winemaking grew. I witnessed all the various stages: from the parcellation of the vineyards to the initial vinifications. This wine is very close to me and my development as a professional and as an individual.