(Note: This is the second story in a series about wines and wineries in Sicily visited by the author.)
So many things about Sicily seems magical.
The winetasting dinner beneath the stars in a courtyard in Catania with several winemakers.
The narrow, winding streets lined with stone buildings along the water in the old part of Siracusa.
The distinct, ornate limestone buildings scattered throughout the charming, hilly streets of Noto.
Several lunches and dinners served in vineyards located throughout the island.
But one thing is for certain in Sicily — the exceptional quality of the wines produced on this Italian island. And that’s especially true when it comes to its red wines.
This week, you can learn more about red wines from Sicily, including more about Nero D’Avola and other popular red wine grapes from Sicily.
Hope you enjoy.
Sicily wine statistics
242,000 acres of vineyards.7,200 wine growers.530 wine bottlers.30 percent of organic Italian wine comes from Sicily.
History of winemaking
People have been making wine on Sicily for more than 4,000 years, perhaps even longer, starting with the Greeks. There are several reasons why Sicily is an ideal wine-growing location, including its hot summers and mild, rainy winters; a diverse variety of soils; and an abundance of natural grape varieties, with more than 70 grapes that grow in Sicily.
Winemaking regions
Sicily has four distinct climates that produce different wines, including:
Coastal climate, which is milder than other parts of the island.Mt. Etna area, which is more humid and warmer on the eastern side and cooler on the northern side.Mountainous areas, which are colder than other parts of the island.Inland area, which is hotter and more humid.
Sicilian red wine grapes
Sicily has more than 70 different types of red wine grapes. However, three grapes in particular produce many of Sicily’s best-known red wines:
Nero D’Avola: Native to Sicily and widely planted in the 1600s and 1800s, Nero D’Avola is the red wine grape that first grabbed the world’s attention and showed that Sicily can produce outstanding, fruit-forward wines.Frappato: Another red wine grape native to Sicily, Frappato is often blended with Nero D’Avola grapes and has a fresh, light, floral finish.Nerello Mascalese: Grown primarily on the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna, Nerello Mascalese grapes produce earthy, elegant wines that vividly bring to life the region’s unique mountainside soil and climate.Wine tasting notes
(All Sicilian red wines recommended below were tasted by the author in Sicily.)
2022 Kaggera Nero D’Avola
Tasting notes: Lush, woolly, dense wine with fragrant, floral-like aromas and flavors, along with hints of dark chocolate and leather.
2022 Colosi Nero D’Avola
Tasting notes: Delicate, fragrant, soft wine with delicate, floral hints of cherry and raspberry that last more than a minute after each taste.
2021 Fondo Antico ‘Nene’ Nero D’Avola (Highly Recommend)
Tasting notes: Outstanding, austere, delicate wine with hints of black licorice and raspberry that takes several minutes to open up and reveal its playful, elegant flavors and aromas.
2016 Tenute Cuffaro ‘Flippo Il’ Nero D’Avola
Tasting notes: Oaky, flinty, dense wine that takes several minutes to open up and reveal its flinty, raspberry fruit-like flavors and aromas.
2020 Eruzione 1614 Planeta (Highly Recommend)
Tasting notes: Made with Nerello Mascalese grapes, this lively red wine has a light, intense finish with Beaujolais-like flavors and aromas.
2021 Tenuta Regaleali Lamuri Nero D’Avola
Tasting notes: Funky, intense, full-bodied red wine that goes great with food and can age for several more years due to its complex, earthy flavors.
2021 Donnafugata Sul Vulcano Etna Rosso DOC
Tasting notes: Made with Nerello Mascalese grapes, this light, soft red wine has bright fruit (cherry, raspberry, strawberry) flavors and aromas.
2021 Diodoros
Tasting notes: Blended red wine with a funky yet fragrant finish. Lively, bright fruit flavors (cherry, blackberry) need time to open up in the glass and can easily age in bottle for years.
2020 Cantodoro Stemmari Riserva (Highly Recommend)
Tasting notes: Outstanding blended red wine with intense, dense, full-bodied finish with layers of floral fruit flavors and aromas, including hints of cherry, blackberry and dark chocolate.
Local wine events
Discover New Zealand: Wine tasting class focusing on wines from New Zealand hosted by Provisions in Longmeadow on Tues., Sept. 23 from 6 to 8 pm. Tickets are $25. Call 413-384-2719 to reserve a seat or for more information.
More recommended wines
Everyday Wine (Wines under $15)
2024 Cote Mas Rose Aurore Pays d’OC IGP ($9 Suggested Retail Price) – Bright, lively, fruit-forward Rose wine from France’s Languedoc region made with a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah grapes. Perfect for warm afternoons and slightly chilly nights.
Weekend Wine (Wines under $40)
2023 Whitehall Lane Rutherford Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($30 SRP) – Whitehall Lane Winery in Napa Valley is best known for its red wines. This particular white wine has a crisp, clean, refreshing finish with hints of lemon, green apple, vanilla and fresh-picked oranges.
Splurge Wine (Wines under $100)
2019 Famiglia Pasqua Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG (SRP $60) – A classic Amarone from Italy that never goes out of style and tastes great anytime of year. Flavors include hints of cherry, velvet, tobacco and toasted vanilla.
Lottery Wine (Wines over $100)
2012 Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque, Fleur de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Millesime ($400 SRP) – Unfortunately, I didn’t win the $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot this month. But if I had, this would be one of the wines I would splurge on to celebrate. This outstanding vintage Champagne (meaning the grapes used to make the Champagne come from one year, in this case 2012) has a beautiful, crisp, bright, lively finish with hints of toasted almonds and roasted butter. Tasted in 2023 when I visited the winery in France’s Champagne region, I will never say no to a glass or bottle of this outstanding Champagne, whatever the occasion.
Cheers!
Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com and in The Republican’s Weekend section.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Dining and Cooking