The best Sicilian wines
The main varieties of Sicily, of course, are local – red Nero d’Avola, Nerello, Frappato, whites – Grillo, Cataratto, Inzolia, Dzibibbo (nothing else but Muscat of Alexandria). Of course, international ones are also grown (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc), which are actively added to the local ones.
Today the island of Sicily, as a wine-growing region, is developing rapidly, the quality of wines is growing noticeably, not only wonderful samples appear, but also those wines that, perhaps, will soon be called “great”! Who knows?!
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Let's get to know those producers who, in my humble opinion, are the best on the island, with the potential to create more than one “great wine of Italy” in the future.
Tasca d’Almerita
One of the most famous, wealthy and, most importantly, respected families in Sicily. The Tasca family began their winemaking business in 1830 with the purchase of the ancient Regaleali estate. Now the family is one of the largest vineyard owners in Sicily (about 400 hectares). The slogan of the company “Traditions and Innovations” can be seen in everything from Task d’Almerit. In the old building of the winery, the latest equipment for the production of wine is installed, and Cabernet Sauvignon grows along with Nero d’Avola in the vineyards.
The best wine of the estate – Rosso del Conte – pure Nero d’Avola from 50-year-old vines.
Planeta
Despite the fact that the Planet family has a long history, owning vast lands in Sicily, it became a winemaking quite recently – about 20 years ago. But, nevertheless, now this company is one of the largest on the island (about 300 hectares of vineyards). Moreover, the Planet has significantly expanded its presence throughout the island, creating a kind of geographical triangle – now wine is produced not only in the west, but also in the south, east and in the north of Sicily (there, by the way, the company is trying to revive the production of one of the oldest wines – Mamertino, which, along with Falerno, was known in ancient Rome).
The best wine on the planet (and it sounds like that!) – Santa Cecilia, created from Nero d’Avola, harvested in the south of the island. It is worth noting that the company is also famous for its white wine from a rare Fiano variety called Cometa.
Pellegrino
The Pellegrino winery was founded in 1880 in the city of Marsala. It is famous primarily for the production of Marsala sweet fortified wine, as well as Passito de Pantelleria, a sweet wine from the island of Pantelleria. Marsala has always competed with Jerez and Porto wines. True, the best days of Marsala have passed, but, nevertheless, Pellegrino remained faithful to this original Sicilian wine, continuing to tirelessly improve its quality and promote it on the international market. In addition, Pellegrino produces dry red and white wines, mainly in the I.G.T. Marsala is little known in our area, but many samples of this fortified wine are not inferior in quality and taste to either sweet Jerez or white Porto.
Donnafugata
One of the leading wine companies in Sicily is famous primarily for its colorful labels. Donnafugata belongs to the Rallo family, and the name of the company itself comes from the village of the same name, where a royal person from the Bourbon dynasty hid in Italy under the rule of Napoleon. By the way, Donnafugata is translated as “Donna on the Run”. The company produces wines from Nero d’Avola, Cataratto, Dzibbibo, Grillo, Ansonica, as well as from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay. Viognier, Tannat, Pinot noir, which are rare in these places, also grow in their vineyards, often supplementing blends.The best wine of the company is considered to be a wine with a romantic name – “A Thousand and One Nights” (Mille e una Notte). Its basis is Nero d’Avola, but, as in many tales, there is also a mystery here – the manufacturer indicates that along with Nero, other grape varieties are present in the blend – and which ones are not specified 🙂
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Donnafugata Sul Vulcano Etna rosso
Donnafugata, “Sul Vulcano” Etna Rosso DOC – dry red wine, a novelty of Donnafugata winery. In the production of wine, grapes of the Nerello Mascalese variety, which grow on the northern slope of Etna, are used. Harvesting is done by hand with sorting in the vineyards into small boxes. Fermentation followed by maceration on the skins is carried out in steel tanks at a temperature of 25 ° C and lasts 8-10 days. The wine is aged for 14 months in steel tanks and in French oak barrels of the second and third use. Before going on sale, the wine is additionally aged in bottles in the cellars of the winery for 7 months. The potential of the wine is 5 years.
The name of the Donnafugata farm is translated from Italian as “runaway woman”. There is a legend about the escape of Queen Maria Carolina, who fled from Naples and found her refuge in a town in the centre of the valley of Santa Margherita Belice, in the palace under the starry sky. Also thanks to this event, many labels depict the head of a woman with hair flying in the wind.