Bruno Fina is a man with an agenda. Stocky, shaven-headed, he cuts the sort of figure that doesn’t let much get in its way. This has involved launching his own impressive range of wines and building a huge ‘baglio-cantina’ a mansion-cum-winery in an Arab-Sicilian style. Sitting on an escarpment, this is visible from miles around and conversely Mr and Mrs Fina’s dining room has spectacular views over the sea to the island of Favignana. They don’t have much in the way of vineyards but that doesn’t matter when your hinterland is one of the largest vineyard areas in Europe. For many years Bruno was director of the viticultural research institute on Sicily so he certainly knows which growers to go to for the best grapes. In fact, Bruno advised many growers on where many of the new varieties should be planted and in the hot climate of Western Sicily, the importance of mountain vineyards really comes into its own. His winemaking skills, while they have a New World influence, were honed by working for GiacomoTachis, the godfather of Italian winemaking consultants.