Hauner
Aeolian Archipelago - Salina Isle
Carlo Hauner (1927-1996) lived a dream common to us all. In the early 1960s, he vacationed on the verdant island of Salina in the Aeolian Archipelago off the northern coast of Sicily. He immediately fell in love with the enchanting, rustic surroundings and decided to leave northern Italy and live permanently on Salina. This legendary figure is credited with bringing winemaking legitimacy to Salina and the Malvasia delle Lipari appellation. Today, his son Carlo Hauner Jr. continues work at the winery with the same level of enthusiasm and dedication. Despite his tall frame, light eyes and blond hair, Carlo is the figure most identified with the wines of Salina. I had the chance to visit with him recently. We crisscrossed the island in his old Jeep (picking up hitchhikers along the way because that’s the custom on an island with poor public bus service) to scope out his favorite vineyard sites. Caper bushes grow between the cracks in the dry walls separating vineyard parcels and prickly pears line the perimeters. Clouds passed quickly overhead and the skies were dotted with sky-gliders who launch from the island’s tallest peaks. There is no exaggerating the beauty of this magical place. MONICA LARNER, The Wine Advocate
Carlo Hauner was an extraordinary man. Born in Brescia in 1927, Carlo established a brilliant international reputation as an artist and designer. Visiting the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily for the first time in 1963, he fell in love with their natural beauty and, in particular, the famous Malvasia dessert wines. These seven volcanic islands, now UNESCO World Heritage Sites, had been left decimated by mass emigration, much of it to Australia, following phylloxera and two world wars. Carlo is credited with bringing the Islands Malvasia dolce back to life, described by Gambero Rosso as “flaunting nuances of Mediterranean scrubland and delicious echoes of candied citrus”. The range also includes a refreshing white from Cataratto and Inzolia; juicy and fruit forward Rosso from Nero d’Avola and Nerello Mascalese and the stunning Hiera, made from Nero d’Avola, Alicante and Nocera.
Carlo purchased 20 ha of abandoned terrace vineyards of Malvasia and began a process of restoration in the 1970's. Traditionally Malvasia is cultivated for the production of Passito della Lipari, a sweet wine produced from dried grapes. Carlo however, began to experiment with modern winemaking techniques such as temperature controlled fermentation. Expansion in the 1980's saw plantings of Inzolia, Cataratto, Narello Mascalese, Alicante, Sangiovese and Nero d'Avola. PWS
Carlo Hauner (1927-1996) lived a dream common to us all. In the early 1960s, he vacationed on the verdant island of Salina in the Aeolian Archipelago off the northern coast of Sicily. He immediately fell in love with the enchanting, rustic surroundings and decided to leave northern Italy and live permanently on Salina. This legendary figure is credited with bringing winemaking legitimacy to Salina and the Malvasia delle Lipari appellation. Today, his son Carlo Hauner Jr. continues work at the winery with the same level of enthusiasm and dedication. Despite his tall frame, light eyes and blond hair, Carlo is the figure most identified with the wines of Salina. I had the chance to visit with him recently. We crisscrossed the island in his old Jeep (picking up hitchhikers along the way because that’s the custom on an island with poor public bus service) to scope out his favorite vineyard sites. Caper bushes grow between the cracks in the dry walls separating vineyard parcels and prickly pears line the perimeters. Clouds passed quickly overhead and the skies were dotted with sky-gliders who launch from the island’s tallest peaks. There is no exaggerating the beauty of this magical place. MONICA LARNER, The Wine Advocate
Carlo Hauner was an extraordinary man. Born in Brescia in 1927, Carlo established a brilliant international reputation as an artist and designer. Visiting the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily for the first time in 1963, he fell in love with their natural beauty and, in particular, the famous Malvasia dessert wines. These seven volcanic islands, now UNESCO World Heritage Sites, had been left decimated by mass emigration, much of it to Australia, following phylloxera and two world wars. Carlo is credited with bringing the Islands Malvasia dolce back to life, described by Gambero Rosso as “flaunting nuances of Mediterranean scrubland and delicious echoes of candied citrus”. The range also includes a refreshing white from Cataratto and Inzolia; juicy and fruit forward Rosso from Nero d’Avola and Nerello Mascalese and the stunning Hiera, made from Nero d’Avola, Alicante and Nocera.
Carlo purchased 20 ha of abandoned terrace vineyards of Malvasia and began a process of restoration in the 1970's. Traditionally Malvasia is cultivated for the production of Passito della Lipari, a sweet wine produced from dried grapes. Carlo however, began to experiment with modern winemaking techniques such as temperature controlled fermentation. Expansion in the 1980's saw plantings of Inzolia, Cataratto, Narello Mascalese, Alicante, Sangiovese and Nero d'Avola. PWS