CREVENTIC is happy to confirm that Sicilian winery Cusumano has stepped on-board as an event sponsor for the inaugural COPPA FLORIO 12H Sicily on 9-10-11 October.

Established in 2001 by brothers Alberto and Diego, Cusumano is one of the leading wine producers in Sicily today. Among the vintner’s core strengths is its attention to innovative technology, terroir knowledge and, crucially, exclusive use of its own grapes across a dozen distinct blends.

As part of its collaboration with CREVENTIC for the COPPA FLORIO 12H Sicily, Cusumano will host a wine tasting in the paddock on Friday 9 October for all participating teams and drivers after both 45-minutes qualifying sessions have concluded. Qualifying for the TCE field will begin at 14.00 hrs local time, while the GT division will run at 15.00 hrs.

“Having Cusumano on-board for the inaugural COPPA FLORIO 12H Sicily will really help us capture the character of this event,” CREVENTIC’s sporting coordinator Ole Dörlemann. “Alberto and Diego Cusumano are among the most respected entrepreneurs in their field, and with five estates across Sicily, have truly taken this island and its spirit to-heart. We’re confident this will help elevate the intricate personality of the revived Coppa Florio to a new level.”

Inspired by their father Francesco’s own work in the field, Diego and elder brother Alberto first put Cusumano on the public’s radar at the Vinitaly wine fair in Verona, at which they displayed four of their latest creations. The brothers were awarded the Tre Bicchieri by Italian wine guide Gambero Rosso, an accolade reserved for only the finest wines in their respective categories.

From their original base in Partinico near Palermo, Diego and Alberto Cusumano have since expanded into five different vineyards in Sicily, each of which boasts its own geographic and agronomic traits. Tenuta San Giacomo in Butera for example sits 400 metres above sea level, features calcareous soil (‘it mirrors the sun as if it were snow’) and thus allows the grapes to preserve their acidity. By comparison, Tenuta Ficuzza in Piana degli Albanesi sits at a far higher 700 m asl and is defined more by the copious woodland around it. Meticulous attention to detail, plus ever-increasing consumer demand, means Cusumano today produces approximately 3 million bottles of wine every year.

The COPPA FLORIO 12H Sicily will be held at the Autodromo di Pergusa on 9-10-11 October. Following on from the city parade to Enna on Thursday 8 October, and Free Practice and Qualifying on Friday 9 October, the green flag for the first six hours will fly at 11.00 hrs on Saturday 10 October. After CREVENTIC’s customary overnight intervention, the final six hours will commence at 11.00 hrs on Sunday 11 October.