Ajello, a family owned and operated winery located in the Val de Mazara in Sicily’s southwest, is fast becoming one of the most recognized producers in the region. Founded by Salvatore Ajello’s grandfather in 1860, the family has cultivated vines here for three generations. Today, 168 acres of vineyards are divided between the native varieties of Grillo, Insolia, Catarratto and Nero d’Avola grapes, as well as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. Grapes are exclusively hand-picked. The vineyards on the Ajello family’s 300-acre estate, bordered by the Judeo stream, face southwest at an altitude of 650 feet above sea level and have claycalcareous soil.