Italian wines Sicilia

To Phoenicians and Greeks outstanding achievements regarding the production and marketing of wine in Sicily are recognized, but wine-growing in the region begins even before their arrival (arond 1600-1800 BC). Wine, then, has always been of paramount importance both for culture and economy of the islanders. With the foundation of the Roman Empire, the production techniques are modernized, and in the course of the centuries wine growing has never undergone considerable arrests, always keeping active and thriving until the arrival of phylloxera, and immediately after the Second World War. With the creation of the European Common Market and and of cooperative wineries, as well as with the marketing of wines abroad, Sicily manages to recover and creates new productive realities that carry its products to be known and renowned all over the world.


Starting from the far north of the region we find Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, in he DOC Faro, although historically these varieties can be found on the Etna since at least two thousand years. The wines, due to climate and temperature range, reach high levels of sensory complexity far beyond the image of a hot climate wine. In fact, the belt that embraces "a Muntagna", a beautiful ring that includes the most cultived with vines area, from 600 to 900 meters above sea level, is a real mountain viticulture. More fresh and preferable for white wines from Caricante grapes is the eastern end, between Randazzo and Solicchiata: a richer and full-bodied area, definitely suited for red wines, always very fine and elegant. Going down on the eastern coast, vineyards of Pachino are the famos ones, where the real Nero d'Avola of the Eloro denomination is found. Here can be found also excellent dessert wines, from Moscato di Noto to Siracusa. Wines of great personality also come from Vittoria, excellent are Cerasuolo and Frappato. Continuing to the south coast, you reach Menfi, and the districts of Marsala, a great but misunderstood and often misinterpreted wine of our oenological heritage.