PREOLA LAKE AND GORGHI TONDI

The reserve

The Nature Reserve of Lake Preola and Gorghi Tondi is a treasure and to be discovered it must be visited. When you least expect it, immersed in a valley and hidden from view, a series of small lakes surrounded by the vegetation of the area suddenly appear. The area is a depression of Karstic origin where rain and time have eroded the land to form these small natural lakes which, apart from being highly picturesque, nourish the surrounding vines. The neat rows of vines fit perfectly in the wild and harmonious oasis, a refuge at different times of the year for protected species such as herons, hawks and mallards. This reflects the unique characteristics of the area, for position, climate, land and respect for Nature.

The Oasis is located in the town of Mazara del Vallo (TP ) .

Flora and fauna

The cords of marsh vegetation surrounding the ponds are ideal habitats for flora and fauna, with the presence of aquatic plants such as marsh straw , the Scirpo , the cattail, sedge and reed. Stand out above the ridges instead plant associations in Kermes oak , olive and mastic is also a dense holm oak forest relict in the locality of Cantarro .

The environments of the oasis, during the spring and autumn , are frequented by several species of ducks : mallard, teal, wigeon, tufted duck and ferruginous duck , pintail, teal , also from the coot, moorhen from the little grebe  and the great crested grebe . Significant , also , the presence of herons as the bittern , night heron , grey heron , egret and Rails as the water rail and crake. In spring, the period required for the trekking and bird watching , you can see the sultan chicken , glossy ibis , the spoonbill , the stork,  the white Turkish Pochard duck and  the marbled  duck.

Tenuta Gorghi Tondi

Within the WWT Natural Reserve “Lago Preola e Gorghi Tondi” there is “Tenuta Gorghi Tondi”, one of the most fascinating estates in Sicily .It is located in Mazara del Vallo. The native wines (Grillo, Cataratto, Zibibbo, Nero d’Avola) and the international ones (Syrah, Chardonnay) are cultivated in the 135 hectars of vineyards.  At Tenuta Gorghi Tondi winemaking becomes  an artful combination of the Sicilian reality joining the area’s favourable climatic conditions to the high technology in order to guarantee the achievement of a high quality product. The modern cellar allows a great quality production in harmony with the surrounding landscape.