NICOLA SPANO’ CARACCIOLO
The wine company “Nicola Spanò & C.” was founded in 1860 by Marquis Nicola Spanò Caracciolo. The business obtained permission to print the Savoia family crest on the label, to indicate it supplied the Italian Royal Family.
Initially, the production facilities built in front of the port of Marsala included a small warehouse between the Woodhouse and Florio establishments, but later it was extended and became one of the largest of its time. It consisted of two long warehouses with an office building in between them and had a monumental entrance with a tour. For many years the company was managed by Baron Antonio Spanò di San Giuliano, who was also head of the town of Marsala during fascism and the first president of Industrialvini Sicilia (Italian Federation of Industrial Producers, Exporters and Importers of Wines, Spirits, Syrups, Vinegar). The company produced good “Marsala” wines and for many years received the highest recognitions in all the main exhibitions around the world. In 1979, the business was forced to close down.
PIETRO GIACONE
Pietro Giacone, born in S. Margherita Belice in 1850, moved to Marsala after celebrating his wedding in the town. In 1860, aware of the success of the British and the Florio family, he decided to start his own wine business. Having rented part of the disused Wood facilities and using some of the existing equipment, he started “making Madera-style wine” and established “Fattoria Pietro Giacone”. The results were encouraging and in 1865 he built a winery on the seafront in the Marsala area towards Mazara (today Via Tripoli). Over the years the facilities were extended and his family residence was also built on the premises.
In 1876, after his brother-in-law Antonio Anselmi Tumbarello joined the business, the name of the company was changed to “P. Giacone & Anselmi”.
The company grew producing excellent “Marsala” wine. As a result of the reorganisation of its sales network, the number of shipments increased reaching some foreign markets, including France, and the company opened a storehouse in Paris.
The company received the following awards: Bronze medal at the Industrial Exhibition in Palermo (1870) and at the Inter-provincial Exhibition in Siracusa (1871); Bronze medal from the Minister of Agriculture and Award of Honour (1872). It remained in business until 1890.