Catona occupies a picturesque location in the northern part of Reggio Calabria, overlooking the Strait of Messina and closely linked to the wine-growing landscape of the Costa Viola. The Mediterranean climate, bright and tempered by the sea, benefits from the breezes of the Strait and the currents that ensure good ventilation of the grapes. The coastal strip features alluvial soils, whilst on the hills behind, the landscape is characterised by slopes and terraces supported by ancient dry-stone walls – the distinctive ‘armacìe’ – built to make steep slopes cultivable and to preserve the soil.
In this context, viticulture requires meticulous manual work and management that respects the balance of the terraces. The ampelographic heritage includes several traditional varieties of the Costa Viola, such as Prunesta, Malvasia Nera, Nerello and Gaglioppo, which produce red wines of structure and intensity, as well as rosé and white wines covered by the Costa Viola IGT designation. The winemaking process maintains a direct link with the territory: the grapes are selected, carefully processed and vinified in the cellar using methods that enhance their aromatic integrity, freshness and Mediterranean character. Catona thus represents a meeting point between family tradition, wine culture and the landscape of the Strait.