Interview with sebastiano di bella, produttore president of arca
Interview by Gran Via
With quiet elegance and unwavering conviction, Sebastiano Di Bella fully embodies the vision behind ARCA – the Regional Association for Authentic Catarratto. As a producer, agronomist, and now president of the Association, he leads a project that does not fear international challenges, but begins with a simple principle: to tell the truth of Sicilian wine, without embellishment, with authenticity. In this interview, he reflects on the deeper meaning of Catarratto, the territories that nurture it, and the men and women who grow it with vision and integrity.
President Di Bella, why is Catarratto once again central to Sicily’s wine story?
Because the time is right. For too long, Catarratto was underestimated due to its productivity and a yield-driven approach that sacrificed its qualitative potential. Today, we can see it with new eyes—thanks to agronomic knowledge, technological innovation, and above all, a renewed sense of identity. Catarratto is not a grape to be chased, but listened to. It needs time, precision, and consistency. It is a wine that reflects its landscape, its soil, the wind, and the decisions of those who cultivate it. That’s what makes it unique. With ARCA, we’ve chosen to tell its story in this way: as an authentic, recognizable wine, born of its land.
Authenticity and sensory recognizability are two keywords in your project. What do they mean in the case of Catarratto?
They mean that the wine must speak the language of the vineyard it comes from. Catarratto has a remarkable ability to adapt, but it always retains its signature: natural acidity, freshness, saline tension, clear aromas of citrus, wild herbs, and mineral notes. If handled with respect, it needs no enological “corrections.” At ARCA, we reject standardization. Every bottle is a direct expression of its terroir. In the cellar we work with skins, with native yeasts, with aging techniques—but always to enhance, never to mask. That’s why we say our Catarratto is recognizable. It’s not generic, but faithful. And whoever tastes it—even thousands of kilometers from Sicily—recognizes it as a true wine.
ARCA is also an alliance between territories and people. How do you maintain coherence across such diversity?
In a word: consistency. The six wineries that form ARCA—Bagliesi, Caruso & Minini, Castellucci Miano, Feudo Disisa, Tenute Lombardo, and Di Bella—represent very different areas in terms of altitude, climate, and soil composition. From the Madonie to Nisseno, from Naro to Salemi, from San Giuseppe Jato to Grisì—each vineyard has its own story. But what unites us is a shared vision: to make wine in an artisanal, sustainable, respectful way. Our Decalogue was created precisely to formalize these values. Growing at altitude, respecting the vine’s natural rhythms, preserving varietal biodiversity, making wine without masks. We are six wineries, but one voice.
In today’s global wine context, talking about Sicily also means addressing international markets. What is your challenge?
Our challenge is to take Catarratto beyond regional and national borders—not as a generic wine, but as a wine of real quality. We’re not chasing numbers; we’re seeking recognition. We want sommeliers, journalists, and wine lovers around the world to know that Sicily produces a remarkable Mediterranean white, capable of competing in terms of elegance, personality, and aging potential. We’ve already demonstrated this at Vinitaly and in the tastings led by Master of Wine Pietro Russo: Catarratto can be a great European wine with a Sicilian soul. But to succeed, we must be credible, authentic, and united. That’s what ARCA is for.
Is there a message you’d like to share with those supporting ARCA—producers, restaurateurs, communicators, and wine enthusiasts?
Yes. A heartfelt thank you. Without this network of people who believe in our vision, ARCA wouldn’t exist. I thank those who work with passion in the vineyard and cellar, those who share our story with intelligence, those who choose, serve, and recommend our wines. Now more than ever, we need a community that doesn’t settle for “easy” wine, but seeks to understand, to deepen, to truly know. ARCA is not a brand—it’s a way of being. And each of you, when you choose one of our Catarrattos, becomes part of it. Together, we can create something meaningful—for wine, for Sicily, and for the future.
