THE 1902 SICILIAN AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION
At the 1902 Palermo Regional Agricultural Exhibition, Marsala’s wine industries suggested holding the oenological section in Marsala. Spokesman for this old ambition was Vito Rubino with his magazine “Il Vomere”, founded in 1896. However, although the exhibition was very successful, it was clearly not enough to relaunch a product such as “Marsala” wine due to competition with some ill-prepared and insufficiently aged wines.
VACATIONAL STATE SCHOOL FOR AGRICULTURE
The strong financial growth produced by the development of so many wine industries led to the need to create operators capable of supporting the development of the wine industries. In 1885, the Agricultural Colony (Colonia Agricola) of San Carlo needed to be transformed into Regia Scuola Pratica d’Agricoltura {Vocational School of Agriculture].
After various ups and downs, it was transformed in 1924 into Regia Scuola Agraria Media, specialising in wine growing and wine production.
This school also produced some excellent technicians and oenologists from other towns in our province. They contributed considerably to the cultivation of the vineyards and the production of some excellent wines.
In 1931, it ultimately became known as Reggio Istituto Agragrio and was named after Abele Damiani.
In the academic year 1997/98, it established a university course for food technology, specialising in viticulture and oenology, as a detached section of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Palermo.
CONSORTIUM FOR THE PROTECTION OF MARSALA WINE
Founded in 1963, it is one of the oldest protection consortiums in Italy,
In 1967, the consortium was successful in gaining recognition for Controlled Denomination of Origin, making Marsala one of the first D.O.C. wines in Italy.
Sixty years on from its foundation and its 17 local associated wineries and cooperatives, “it was recognised by the MAFAS [Ministry of agriculture, food sovereignty and forestry] Decree of 19/04/2023 and assigned the task of promoting, developing, protecting, monitoring and informing the consumer (an erga omnes acknowledgment)”. Other objectives of the Consortium include the amendment of production regulations with the inclusion of the geographic term “Sicily” to further enhance global awareness of the area and the trademark “Marsala”. The businesses associated today with the Consortium are: Pellegrino, Cantine Florio, Cantine Lombardo, Cantine Intorcia, Curatolo Arini, Cantine Fici, Baglio Baiata Alagna, Martinez, Cantine Vinci, Frazzitta, Cantine Birgi, Cantine Paolini, Cantina Casale, Colomba Bianca, Cantine Europa, Cantine Petrosino, Casano.
THE MARSALA WINE ROAD
The association “Marsala Wine Road in Terre d’Occidente” plays a role to enhance the region and acts as a benchmark for tourists and operators in the sector by organising itineraries linked to cultural events.
Routes in and outside the walls of the town of Marsala include the area of Capo Boeo, the island of Mozia, the Stagnone Lagoon, the salt pans of the “Salt Road” and the Archipelago of the Aegadian Islands.
The wine road links men and the vineyard, the sea and the earth, and represents this archetypal place with its ancient establishments, fortified baileys, cellars, archeological sites, churches and museums.