Our Story
A journey through deep roots, daily gestures, and future visions.
Tenuta La Favola was not born from a trend.
It was born from a living legacy, that of a family who, for four generations, has cultivated the land and safeguarded the memory of a unique place: the Val di Noto, just steps away from the southernmost sea of Sicily.
The estate officially took shape in 2002, yet its story began long before in 1852.
Since then, among Bourbon parchments, wine trading ledgers, and the courage to bottle a dream, we have continued to evolve, remaining faithful to three guiding values: Agricultural ethics, sustainability, and wine as a voice of the land.
1852 – The Origins
It all began with Giuseppe Di Natale, who moved from Syracuse to Pachino, purchasing several plots of land, among them, the Buonivini estate: a hill cultivated with Nero d’Avola, olive, and carob trees, complete with a farmhouse already equipped for wine and olive oil production.
The wine was made in the stone palmenti of Buonivini, then transported to Marzamemi and loaded onto the family’s sailing ships. The routes led to England via Malta or to northern Italy through Genoa.
Early 1900s – The “Scagno”
By the turn of the century, the estate was thriving. The farmhouse, known as Case Di Natale, hosted up to fifty workers, many from the Ragusa plateau.
In 1900, Giuseppe Di Natale and his partner Antonna founded a wine trading office (scagno) in Pachino. Their company, “Di Natale–Antonna”, soon became a benchmark for wine commerce across Sicily.
1908–1949 – Don Corrado and the Ethics of Wine
In 1908, Buonivini passed to Don Corrado, a man admired for his charisma and integrity.
During the 1936 crisis, when many trading houses were looted, his was the only one spared, Don Corrado had refused to speculate on farmers, maintaining bonds of trust and respect.
Under his care, the estate expanded with new vineyards and fertile lands.
1949–1980s – Maria Di Natale and Angelo Gurrieri
In 1949, the estate passed to Maria Di Natale and her husband Angelo Gurrieri.
They expanded vineyard plantings of Nero d’Avola, enlarged the palmento and cellar, acquired new lands, including La Gisira, and strengthened direct sales of wine and olive oil.
The Countercurrent Legacy – 1980s
In the 1980s, while the region turned towards greenhouse cultivation, Maria and Angelo — together with their son Corrado Gurrieri, agronomist, remained loyal to viticulture.
New vineyards of White Moscato were planted, the production of Moscato di Noto DOC began, and a photovoltaic system was installed, a visionary step towards sustainability.
1990 – A Vision for the Future
In 1990, Corrado Gurrieri took over management of the estate, initiating a new era grounded in ethical, modern, and sustainable agriculture.
His leadership was defined by six key commitments:
- Certified organic farming
- Renewal of vineyards with innovative agronomic techniques
- Expansion of olive cultivation
- Acquisition of new premium lands
- Restoration of the historic farmhouse and rural dwellings
- Creation of a small in-house olive mill
2001 – The Turning Point
Swiss wine expert Cristoforo von Ritter tasted one of Corrado’s wines blind and immediately recognised its potential.
“If this venture succeeds,” he said, “it will be a fairytale.”
And so La Favola, the first bottled wine, was born.
2002 – The Birth of Tenuta La Favola
The winery took the name of its first wine, becoming a structured project, a place of organic production, artisanal care, natural wines, and strong local identity.
Today – A Fairytale That Continues
Today, Tenuta La Favola is recognised in Italy and abroad for its ethical, elegant, and authentic wines.
From the hills of Buonivini, the estate continues to cultivate quality, memory, and biodiversity, carrying forward a story that spans over two centuries and five generations. The past remains a living root; the future, a promise to be honoured.