The Estate
The estate where the wine Principi di Mola was born is situated in the municipality of Rodì Milici, in a hill very well ventilated and sunny, situated between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Mountains of Nebrodi. Here, since generations, the terrain provides fine grapes that produce a wine of excellent flavor since the 3rd century B.C.
History
The mamertines
The Mamertines (Greek: Μαμερτῖνοι), i.e. ‘sons of Mamerte’ or Mamers (the Oscan god of war, who corresponded to the Latin Mars), were mercenary soldiers, most famous for playing a leading role in the outbreak of the First Punic War.
Mostly of Campanian origin, they were enlisted between the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd century BC by Agathocles, tyrant of Syracuse. When the latter died in 289 B.C., most of the Mamertines, left without work, returned home, while others remained on the island. Some of them treacherously seized the Greek city of Messina, located on the straits, in a strategically important position. They then took the name Mamertini.
Minor protagonists of the Punic Wars, they are remembered for their warlike actions that contributed to Rome’s successes over Carthage.
Once the Punic wars were over, the remaining Mamertines continued the traditional agricultural activities of the area and planted in the hilly areas adjacent to Milazzo a valuable vine, from whose fruit was born one of the wines most appreciated by the Romans.
The Mamertine trade was in fact very flourishing, especially among Roman patricians and others, which is why it became a much sought-after wine. Its goodness was such that Julius Caesar recounts in ‘De Bello Gallico’ that he offered it to his diners at a banquet held to celebrate his third consulate. Pliny the Elder also commented positively on Mamertino, describing it as a wine worthy of the Emperors’ table.
The Mamertino DOC
Mamertino or Mamertino di Milazzo, is a DOC wine established by decree of 03/09/2004 published in the official gazette of 11/09/04 no. 214. It embraces wines produced in the following municipalities Alì, Alì Terme, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Basicò, Castroreale, Condrò, Falcone, Fiumedinisi, Furnari, Gualtieri Sicaminò, Itala, Librizzi, Mazzarrà Sant’Andrea, Merì, Milazzo, Monforte San Giorgio, Montalbano Elicona, Nizza di Sicilia, Oliveri, Pace del Mela, Patti, Roccalumera, Roccavaldina, Rodì Milici, San Filippo del Mela, Santa Lucia del Mela, San Pier Niceto, Scaletta Zanclea, Terme Vigliatore, Torregrotta, Tripi. All in the province of Messina.