In 1968, Hugues Bernard de la Gatinais, a former French navy officer, married Gigi Guarrasi of a historic Palermo family and began restoring the earthquake-damaged cellars in Valle del Belice. He introduced French varieties alongside native vines, modernizing the estate. Today, their son Laurent continues the project with the same dedication. Rapitalà is now one of Sicily’s most respected wineries, playing a key role in the island’s winemaking revival.