Sicily Wines
White & Red

Other dry Sicily wines white & red are the following:

Alcamo (or Bianco Alcamo) (AHL cah mo) – dry white which is nearly all Catarratto graped, with Rapitalà as the the main winery.

Delia Nivolelli (DAE lee ah nee vo LEL lee) – A new wine zone in the Marsala area, which has a few varietal DOC wines, even if nearly all local whites and reds aren't DOC.

Menfi (MEN fee) – Along the South West coast of the Island. There is Menfi Bianco (Inzolia, Catarratto, Grecanico, Chardonnay grapes), three varietal (90% Chardonnay, Grecanico, Inzolia), two wines from Menfi sub-zones (Feudi dei Fiori, dry white, mainly Inzolia – Bonera, dry red with predominant Nero d'Avola grapes). The Settesoli Coop is the main producer.

Contessa Entellina (con TEHS sah en tel LEE nah) – Ten DOC wines with this village name include seven dry varietals (white Inzolia, Chardonnay, Grecanico and Sauvignon; red Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Nero).

The other three are blended wines which include a dry Bianco (50% inzolia) and dry Rosso and Rosato (50% Nero d'Avola or Syrah). The leading winery is “Donnafugata” runned by the Rallo family.

Santa Margherita di Belice (SAHN tah mar geh REE tah dee BEH lee chae) – There are seven local wines with five varietals (Catarratto, Grecanico, Inzolia, Nero d'Avola Sangiovese), a Dry Bianco (mainly Grecanico or Catarratto) and a dry Rosato (at least 50% Sangiovese or Cabernet Sauvignon). Southwest Sicily is the production area.

Sambuca di Sicilia (sahm BOO cah dee see CHEE lee ah) – Takes its name from the homonymous town. These new DOC wines include blended White (mainly Inzolia), Red and Rosè (Nero d'Avola, Nerello Mascalese).

There are also 2 varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay). On the other hand there is also a grape which DOC regulations forbid the use in Sambuca wines: Trebbiano Toscano.

The new Planeta winery, has gained great attention and appreciation for its varietal wines.

Sciacca (SHOCK cah) – A new DOC zone whose wines are similar to the Menfi wines. Sciacca is a small town on the Agrigento Coast.

Faro (FAH ro) – This is exclusively a dry red made in the Noth-Eastern province of Messina, and its predominant grape is the Nerello Mascalese. The main winery is Palari, from the homoymous village between Messina and the worldwide famous Taormina.

Etna – Europe's highest vulcano (North East Sicily) is also the perfect environment, for Sicily wines making quality. Wines include Etna Bianco (dry white, with its delicately perfumed Carricante grapes), Rosso and Rosato (Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio). The top winery is Benanti with its Rosso Rovitello.

Cerasuolo di Vittoria (cher af SWO lo dee veet TOR ee ah) – This is a strong dry red (13% alcohol) with a light cherry color. The predominant grape is the Nero d'Avola and Frappato. The top producer is Valle dell'Acate. The vineyard area is South-East Sicily.

Eloro (eh LOH ro) – The wines are all red and rosè with three varietals (Nero d'Avola, Frappato, Pignatello). A quality Rosso Pachino (especially Nero d'Avola) is made in the homonymous sub-zone (South-east Sicily), also famous for its cherry-shaped tasty tomatoes. Eloro is a new DOC zone.

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Italian Dessert Wines

Keeping high the typical Sicily wines tradition for dessert wines, there are also four quality sweet DOC wines deriving from Moscato or white Malvasia varieties:

Moscato di Pantelleria (mohs CAH toh dee pan tel leh REE ah) – This comes from the homonymous volcanic Island, South of Sicily, quite close to the African coast.

Even if the hot winds and the burning sun aren't the best conditions for vineyards, the superb Zibibbo grape survives and makes an outstanding peachy dessert wine.

There are two types of Moscato di Pantelleria, Moscato Naturale (dolce, spumante, liquoroso) and Passito di Pantelleria (which has also various alcoholic versions, from 14,5% to 23,9%).

The famous Marsala producer, Marco De Bartoli, also makes a superb Moscato Passsito called Bukkuram.

Moscato di Siracusa (mohs CAH toh dee sir af COO sah) – The vineyard area are the coastal hills around the Greek city of Siracusa. This wine is made with partially dried Moscato grapes.

The color is gold-amber and is at least 16,5% alcohol. Not long ago it seemed that this wine was about to disappear, but the recent rebirth of interest in dessert wines has convinced producers to start a new production era.

Moscato di Noto (mohs CAH toh dee NOH toh) – Moscato Bianco grapes make this splendid dessert wine which can be also sweet spumante or liquoroso (22% alc.) The production area is South of Siracusa.

Malvasia delle Lipari (mahl vah SEE ah del lae LEE pah ree) – The wonderful vulcanic Lipari (or Eolie) Islands, North of Sicily, is the production area of one of the world's best dessert wine, and this thanks to a certain Carlo Hauner who revitalized the wine business on the island.

Of course the main grape is Malvasia (more than 90%) with also a small part of Corinto Nero. The aroma has particular floral and herbal features (ripe apricots, figs). This wine can also be a sweet passito or a rarer strong liquore.

The winery today is runned by Carlo Hauner Jr. and his sisters. Another famous producer is Colosi.

• Sicily Wines

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