Pantelleria jealously guards a rich millennial historical heritage, an indelible mark of the passage of peoples and cultures that have shaped its identity over time. The Sesioti, arriving from the south, were the first to inhabit the island between 4500 and 3500 B.C. They were followed by Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Swabians, Aragonese, and Bourbons: a kaleidoscope of influences that have harmoniously forged the soul of the island. While the Arabs, who lived on the island for over four centuries, gave it its name, "Bent-el-Rion," daughter of the wind, the mosaics adorning the ancient dammusi bear witness to the Byzantine presence. It is to the ingenuity of the Phoenicians that we owe the cultivation of the alberello vine.
Pantelleria
Recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, the ancient alberello vine is distinguished by its unique appearance and incredible resilience in facing adversity. Its low trunk, sheltered by a hollow in the ground that cradles and protects it, allows the plant to conserve precious moisture during long periods of drought. The plant features vigorous branches with very short spurs, each hosting a maximum of two buds. A symbol of the stubbornness and ingenuity of the island's inhabitants, the alberello produces Zibibbo, an aromatic wine with an intense golden color and a complex flavor, mirroring the essence of this wild and enchanting land.
