The Wine
This wine’s aromatics suggest bright Mediterranean days that preview its Sicilian roots. Aromas of grapefruit zest, marine herbs (aka seaweed!), and golden orchard fruit. These are typical of Cataratto, but here there’s a slightly fresher, more saline edge that is compelling and delicious.
On the palate, the wine balances its medium-bodied heft with a clean and crisp line of refreshing acidity. Flavors of ripe lemon, papaya, white peach, and a subtle almond-skin bitterness that adds texture and mouthfeel – a hallmark of Catarratto. The finish features salt, citruspith, and subtle herbal notes – think sea spray, wild fennel, and sun-warmed stony soils.
Parings: The producer suggests that this wine showcases a handful of typically Sicilian dishes – vongole pasta, grilled fish, roasted vegetables, chickpea fritters, and citrusdriven salads, all pairings suggested by the producers own notes for earlier vintages.
The Winery
LunaGaia is a project of Cantina Orsogna, a 450member cooperative founded in 1964 and now one of Italys largest organic and biodynamic producers, with over 1,100 hectares under vine of which 80% are organic and 30% Demetercertified biodynamic – an unheard of commitment to quality and sustainability from such a large coop. Though based in Abruzzo, the LunaGaia line focuses on Sicilian varieties and terroirs, produced with a philosophy that blends environmental stewardship, ethical farming, and expressive winemaking.
The estate describes itself as biodynamic, strong, kind, and stubborn, committed to farming as a way of living in harmony with nature rather than simply a method of production. Their approach emphasizes soil vitality, biodiversity, and minimal intervention in the cellar, resulting in wines that are textural, aromatic, and transparently tied to place.
About the Name Mandricardo The cuve takes its name from a warrior in Orlando Furioso, an ally to the African king who is driven by a quest for vengeance and honor. The label depicts Orlando after slaying a dragon a nod to the epics mythic energy and the wines bold Sicilian character.
