... an abundance of Grapes

"Home is Where the Wine is Waiting" 

One of the most amazing experiences you can enjoy in Sicily is visiting a winery where you can enjoy true Sicilian hospitality and be made to feel at home and part of the family.

These fascinating tours take you all the way through the wine making process and end with the most exciting part … The wine tasting.

Wine tasting experiences usually begin in the vineyard where you will learn how vines are trained to harvest perfectly ripe grapes. Then you will learn about the wine-making method and how the fermentation process works before the finished product is bottled for sale. Then comes the very special experience of sampling the wines, which is usually accompanied by fresh local produce such as cheeses, salami, hams, olives, honey, salsiccia (sicilian sausage) just to name a few, each which compliments the wines you are tasting.

Denominazione di Origine Controllata known as DOC is a quality assurance label for Italian wines. The Italian government introduced the system in 1963 and overhauled it in 1992 to comply with European Union law on protected geographical designations of origin.

The Sicilia DOC is the first organisation in the history of Sicily that has been created to promote and preserve the islands indigenous grape varieties and share the islands wine story with consumers along with safeguarding the reputation of the Sicily brand and motivate more people to try Sicilian wine.

Autumn is the perfect time for wine tasting to experience Vendemmia, this is the Italian word for harvest but not just any harvest but the harvest of grapes. Legend says that the word derives from the word vendémiaire which came from a language that was universally known in the medieval times.

Annual wine festivals celebrate viticulture and usually occur after the harvest of the grapes which generally falls in Sicily at the end of September and runs until well into October or sometimes later.

On the 11th November in Sicily we celebrate the Feste di San Martino. This time of year has given rise to Estate di San Martino and it is when the island experiences an Indian summer boasting a period of warm and dry autumnal weather. The beginning of November is symbolically associated with the maturation of the new wines which is the perfect opportunity to celebrate. Wineries open their doors for tastings of the just matured wine.

The wine industry in Sicily has been going through a period of rapid change over the past twenty years and the popularity and prestige of Sicilian wine is rapidly on the rise.

Wine grapes have always grown on the island. Some say it was Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, who planted them there himself. The Mediterranean climate with abundant Sicilian sunshine, a balanced rainfall, mountainous terrain and volcanic soil made rich by Mount Etna's ash all create the perfect conditions for growing quality grapes.

I do love a great glass of wine however I am no wine connoisseur but I do know my grapes after many visits to some wonderful wineries across the island. I have not yet figured out how to have a wine collection, I do however have an extensive cork collection 😜

There are many wineries across the island ranging from the west coast and the south east corner of the island to Mount Etna and Sicily's offshore islands. Most are owned by families whose vineyards have been in the family for centuries and the knowledge of the vines and grapes are passed down the family lineage to the next generation.

Aside from visiting wineries you can enjoy wine tasting at a local enoteca. The word enoteca derives from a Greek word meaning wine repository and they are primarily directed at giving tourists the opportunity to taste wines and possibly buy them.

The most popular wines you will find in Sicily are Nero d'Avola and Etna Bianco and Etna Rosso.

You will also come across fortified wines such as Marsala which boasts a British history in Sicily (more about that another time) also some delightful dessert wines such as Malvasia and Passito. 

There are many grape varieties across the island and so therefore here are My Top Ten Most Popular Grapes that you will come across in Sicily. Cheers !!!!!!

MEET THE GRAPES

Nero d'Avola

Nero d'Avola is one of the most important red wine grapes in Sicily. 

It is named after Avola in the far south of Sicily 

and its wine has plum or peppery flavours. 

This grape is mostly cultivated on the eastern side of the island.

Frappato

Frappato is a red grape and is mostly cultivated in the province of Ragusa. 

It is most commonly seen as a component of the islands only DOCG wine, 

Cerasuolo di Vittoria, which consists of 30-50% Frappato 

and 50-70% Nero d'Avola. 

Grillo

Grillo is a white grape that can withstand high temperatures 

and is widely used in particular for making 

Marsala and other white wines.

Inzolia

Inzolia is also a white grape grown throughout western Sicily 

and is also used for Marsala and other white wines.

Zibbibo

The Zibbibo grape of the tiny island of Pantelleria 

is used for white wines and predominately for the rich 

and full bodied Passito which is made from grapes 

that have been dried to concentrate their juices.

Nerrello Mascalese

The Nerello Mascalese grape is named after the town of Mascali in Catania. 

They are primarily red grapes that are grown 

on the slopes of Mount Etna blended 

with Nerello Cappuccio to make a deep and spicy Etna Rosso. 

Malvasia di Lipari

These grapes are responsible for the fragrant dessert wines of
the Aeolian Island of Salina 

and are rich in flavour of almonds and candied fruits.

Catarratto

A white grape found all over the island
which changes character depending on the climate. 

It is mostly grown in Marsala and Alcamo, 
also on Salina and on Mount Etna.

Grecanico

A white grape native to the western side of the island which makes 

the primary components of Bianco d'Alcamo.

International Vines

Recently there has been international grape varieties
 added to Sicilian vineyards including
Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

A Wine Tasting Experience is the perfect addition to your trip to Sicily

Please do not hesitate to Contact Me for my recommendations
for Vineyards and Wineries
and Wine Tasting Experiences

If you enjoyed this post then you might enjoy this one ↓
"Wine Tasting at Villa Britannia Taormina"
https://whitealmond-privatesicily.blogspot.com/2018/07/wine-tasting-at-villa-britannia-taormina.html

And when you are in my home town
Giardini Naxos 
pop into Enoteca
"Calice dei Nobili"
Where my lovely friend Antonia
is waiting to help you taste and choose the
Perfect Sicilian Wine
You can find Antonia at No 211 Via Naxos

she taught me all I know about 

Sicily’s grapes 🍇

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My Philosophy is to share the delights of Sicily
through Food, Culture, History and its People
using my 15 years of experience living
and travelling on the island

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Love Sarah x
🍇🍇🍇