From Lombardo’s premises in Marsala, a short avenue of squatpalm trees opens out onto a fabulous view of the open blue sea and Marsala’slighthouse. In fact the company’s history is intertwined with Marsala’smaritime heritage; the founder, Giuseppe Lombardo, being a shipbuilder who sawan opportunity to export wines on his ships in 1881. The family still runs the firm today. Ermalinda Lombardo ishelped by her 75 year-old father whose office is stuffed with old memorabiliaabout the family firm and of course there isn’t a computer in sight! Theirwinemaker, Giuseppe Aripoli, makes a staggering array of Marsalas and sweetwines of all sorts of age and persuasion! Rambling warehouses contain endlesswooden barrels containing Marsalas at various stages of maturation. Grapes arebought from the same growers each year, following the traditional pattern ofMarsala houses not investing in vines. Their seaside location, they maintain,is crucial to the slow ageing of the wines.