Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wine
Sicily's vineyards cover nearly 120,000 hectares, making it the second-largest wine-produ-
cing region in Italy. But while grapes have always been grown here, Sicilian wine is for the
most part not well known outside the island.
The most common varietal is Nero d'Avola, a robust red similar to syrah or shiraz. Vint-
four estates around the island;
Donnafugata
(
www.donnafugata.it
)
in Western Sicily;
Azienda Agricola
COS
(
www.cosvittoria.it
)
near Mt Etna; and
Azienda Agricola G Milazzo
(
www.milazzovini.com
)
near Agri-
gento. Try Planeta's Plumbago and Santa Cecilia labels, Donnafugata's Mille e una Notte,
COS' Nero di Lupo and Milazzo's Maria Costanza and Terre della Baronia Rosso.
Local cabernet sauvignons are less common but worth sampling; the version produced
by
Tasca d'Almerita
(
www.tascadalmerita.it
)
at its Regaleali estate in Caltanissetta province is par-
ticularly highly regarded (the estate also produces an excellent Nero d'Avola under its
Rosso del Conte label).
The sangiovese-like Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio are used in the popular
Etna Rosso DOC; try the Contrada Porcaria and Contrada Sciaranuova vintages produced
by the
Passopisciaro
(
www.passopisciaro.com
)
estate or the Serra della Contessa, Rovittello and Pi-
Cerasuolo di Vittoria, a blend of Nero d'Avola and Frappato grapes, is Sicily's only
DOCG
(denominazione d'origine controllata e garantita)
wine. The more restrictive
DOCG classification indicates that Cerasuolo is routinely analysed and tasted by govern-
ment inspectors before bottling, and sealed with an official label to prevent tampering.
Look for Planeta's vintages, which are produced at its estate in Dorilli, and those by COS.
Though the local reds are good, the region is probably best known for its white wines,
including those produced at
Abbazia Santa Anastasia
(
www.abbaziasantanastasia.it
)
near Castelbuono,
Common white varietals include Carricante, Chardonnay, Grillo, Inzolia, Cataratto, Inzo-
lia, Cataratto, Grecanico and Corinto. Look out for Tasca d'Almerita's Nozze d'Oro Inzolia
blend, Fazio's Catarratto Chardonnay, Abbazia Santa Anastasia's chardonnay blends, and
Passopisciaro's Guardiola Chardonnay.
