FRANCESCA PLANETA, PRESIDENT OF PLANETA ESTATE AWARDED WITH THE PRESTIGIOUS COMPASSO D'ORO FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

“ A career that follows in the footsteps of those who preceded her: coherence and prospective vision come together in experience in a historically traditional sector. The path traced is a concrete materialization of the best principles of Made in Italy food design ” – with these words the jury motivated the lifetime achievement award to Francesca Planeta. Francesca has been able to combine her love for the Sicilian territory with a modern and innovative vision, which has led Planeta to become a symbol of excellence in the wine and wine tourism sector. His passion for Sicily and his pioneering spirit, combined with the legacy of his father Diego, the support of his cousins Alessio and Santi, and the support of the whole family and the people who work in the company with a strong team spirit, have contributed to taking Planeta to new heights, always maintaining a deep respect for local traditions and making them the protagonists of a unique and engaging visual narrative. " My vision of design is deeply linked to the beauty of Sicily, an inexhaustible source of inspiration thanks to its cultural and natural riches ," declared Francesca Planeta . "Here, the nuances of the landscapes are reflected in the shapes and colours, creating a visceral bond with the territory. Artisan tradition combines with contemporary creativity, giving life to places that tell stories of life and authenticity, where every detail is a tribute to the rich heritage of the island, telling a story of beauty and passion.” The Compasso d'Oro, established in 1954 and now in its 70th edition, is the oldest and most authoritative design award in the world, and recognizes excellence in design and production. It is not just a tribute to his professional career, but also a sign of how design can be a powerful tool for narrating and enhancing the culture and history of a territory. This honor comes a few days after the key to the Michelin Guide was awarded to La Foresteria Planeta - il The family's Wine Resort in Menfi on the south-western coast of Sicily – which celebrates the establishments that offer the most extraordinary stays and is a tribute to the uniqueness of the Menfi area, which embodies the soul and hospitality of the Planeta family as “Stay Special".

PLANETA PLANETA is an agricultural company with a history of seventeen generations and among the most important in Sicily: 371 hectares of vineyards and seven cellars located in five territories (Menfi, Sambuca di Sicilia, Vittoria, Noto, Etna and Capo Milazzo); 151 hectares of olive grove with an oil mill located right in the center of the property; other crops such as almond and durum wheat, all organic. With the aim of valorising each territory individually through extensive research, ranging from the adaptability of international varieties to native vines up to the so-called "relic varieties" - which have almost disappeared from the ampelographic heritage of the island - Planeta is among the first companies in Sicily and Italy have dedicated themselves to excellent wine tourism: visits and wine tastings, together with naturalistic and cultural experiences tailored to the territory of each winery, are the expression of the cultural richness and conviviality that wine offers. The management philosophy of the agricultural company is oriented towards maximum sustainability: from the complete conversion of all the estates to organic farming, to the creation of the SOSTAIN Foundation, promoter of the production protocol of the same name certified nationally by Mipaaf, to the activities collected under the PlanetaTerra concept - set of projects aimed at protecting the environment and promoting a holistic concept of agriculture - for PLANETA, agricultural activity is a vehicle for environmental protection and a driver of well-being for man and the planet. The desire to enhance Sicilian excellence gave life to the Ab Insula concept: a selection of projects with a strong and authentically Sicilian identity and exceptional historical-cultural value, of which Planeta promotes: thus Serra Ferdinandea was born - a project viticulture and biodynamic agriculture in a mythical place on the island, and Castello Solicchiata – distribution project of the historic Feudi Spitaleri estate, dream and fulcrum of Etna viticulture. Planeta is not only wine but also oil: Planeta organic EVO oil fully expresses the identity of the Capparrina Oasis, a historic property of the Planeta family enclosed between two rivers overlooking the beaches of Menfi, with 46,000 planted trees, 151 hectares of olive groves and 20 hectares of Mediterranean scrub. In addition to agricultural production, PLANETA is active in hospitality with a varied proposal that embraces all the company's estates, including residential, leisure and wine tour offers. The Foresteria di Menfi, with its 14 rooms surrounded by an enchanting Mediterranean garden, which obtained the key from the Michelin Guide in 2024, and the restaurant - included in the Michelin Guide 2024 and awarded with 2 hats from the new 2024 Restaurants guide of L' Espresso - The 1000 Restaurants of Italy and 2 forks from the Gambero Rosso Restaurant Guide of Italy 2024 - which offers the ancient recipes of the family tradition revisited in a contemporary key and expresses the most genuine essence and unique style of PLANETA hospitality. Palazzo Planeta, in the center of Palermo, is made up of seven comfortable apartments, entirely renovated and set up to recreate a refined home atmosphere that expresses the spirit of Sicilian good living. The Insula Beach Club is a green lounge on the sea of Menfi, Blue Flag of the Agrigento coast, a tribute to the places where Planeta's journey in Sicily began. The picture is completed by an artist's residence in Sambuca di Sicilia, “Casa Panitteri”, inside the archaeological museum of the same name. Finally, the cultural activities of the "Culture for the territory" project: a very rich program that ranges from music to theatre, contemporary art and literature. The best known is "Journey to Sicily", a nomadic artist residency project which sees Italian and foreign talents engaged in a journey around the island every year in search of places, stories and atmospheres unknown to the general public and even to the Sicilians themselves , followed by an exhibition that brings together the works resulting from the suggestions of the trip. PLANETA ESTATE offers a coherent corpus of cultural and hospitality activities aimed at transmitting, starting from the wine, the positive values that animate the company: production ethics and obsessive care for quality; respect for the landscape and culture of each place with cellars and structures perfectly integrated into the territory, love for Sicily and centuries-old passion for agriculture. Today the company is led by Alessio Planeta, in the role of managing director, supported by Francesca, Santi and 270 collaborators. In 2023 Alessio Planeta won the prestigious title of "Winemaker of the Year" of the "Wine Star Award", thus bringing Italy to the top of the ranking after sixteen years. The recognition was recognized by Wine Enthusiast - a North American wine magazine that annually names the most influential members of the wine, spirits and beverage industry. In 2024 the company also obtained the title of "Wine family of the year" during the 18 edition of the "Meininger Awards Excellence in Wine & Spirit", a recognition assigned by a jury made up of renowned journalists from the main wine magazines of the German Meininger group ; furthermore, the international magazine "Drinks International" placed Planeta in third place among the most "admired" Italian wine companies, according to the "The World's Most Admired Wine Brands" ranking.