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Having visited Sicily a few times over the past three years, I had the opportunity to spend time at many wineries, drink a variety of memorable wines and indulge in mouthwatering cuisine. I completely fell in love with the beauty and culture of the island.  Sicily Photo credit: Penny Weiss I have traveled from Catania to Trapani and in-between and even spent time on the enchanting island of Pantelleria. However, the one area of Sicily that still eludes me is Mt. Etna.  Thanks to Donnafugata, I was recently gifted a holiday basket that included a bottle of their Fragore Etna Rosso DOC, one of the newest editions to their portfolio. After one sip my palate did a happy dance as I was momentarily transported back to Sicily.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss I have written numerous stories and reviews about Donnafugata that you can read under the category “Donnafugata” on the right-hand side of this page. So, without further ado, I’m heading straight to Mt. Etna…at least my palate is! In addition to four other areas with vineyards spread across Sicily, Donnafugata has approximately 18 hectares of vineyard production on Etna in eastern Sicily and all 18 hectares are in the DOC zone. The vineyards are located on the north side of the volcano and are spread out among 5 districts, with the highest altitude of 750 meters above sea level in Randazzo. While this area benefits from the Mediterranean climate, the proximity of the very active Mt. Etna volcano plays an important role in the surrounding soils. This soil is rich with volcanic nutrients thanks to volcanic ash and rock, which in turn provides nutrients to the grapevines and ultimately helps to create more concentrated flavor and complexity in the wines. The soils for this particular wine are rather unique as explained on Donnafugata’s website. “With its eruptions, Etna produces “sciare”, accumulations of lava, that through long physical-chemical processes give rise to the sandy, and therefore cultivable, soils on the slopes of the volcano. Each lava flow, that took place in different historical periods, determines a specific composition of the terrains: this is the imprint that makes the wine from a micro-territory unique. In particular, the lava flow of Montelaguardia, where the cru Fragore is produced, dates back to 1614-1624.” Donnafugata Fragore Etna Rollo DOC Contrada Montelaguardia 2016 This first vintage wine is made with 100% Nerello Mascalese. The grapes are sourced and handpicked from Montelaguardia area of Randazzo and vinified at Donnafugata’s winery in Randazzo. Aging took place in French oak barrels for 14 months and then a minimum of 10 months in the bottle before release.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss A bright color of red raspberry leads to a beautiful bouquet of floral, red berries, cherry, sweet spice, minerality and a whiff of smoke. The palate offers a profusion of berries, cherry, minerality and hints of balsamic and anise. Spice and sour cherry linger on a long and luxurious finish. This is an elegant wine that is delicately balanced with refreshing acidity and tannins. This complex wine brings the essence of Mt. Etna to your palate! Serve with grilled meat, tuna and spicy or tangy cuisine. Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $85 Fragore literally means ‘crash or thunder’ in Italian, and the interpretation here is that of “thunder’ alluding to the explosive and volcanic thunder of the volcano. Every whimsical label of Donnafugata wines tells a story called “Dialog With Art” that I like to include with my reviews. Here is the dialog for Fragore.  Image courtesy of Donnafugata “Donnafugata is “projected” towards the future, like an object launched into space, attracted by invisible gravities. Illustrator Stefano Vitale captures this perpetual motion perfectly in the latest label of Fragore that represents the volcano’s roar. Donnafugata continues its journey towards the most remote corners of Sicily: east to Vittoria and then up to the highest point on the island, on the Etna volcano.”
The next time you want to experience the wonders of Mt. Etna, pour a glass of Fragore and immerse yourself in the magic of Sicily! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com Every time I receive wine from Donnafugata, my heartbeat quickens and my palate tingles with anticipation. Whether I taste Donnafugata wines while surrounded by the beauty of Sicily or in the comfort of my home, each bottle and style of wine always performs its magical spell on me. Before I even open a bottle, the whimsical and captivating labels seduce me.  Donnafugata has wineries and 405 hectares of vineyards located throughout Sicily, including historic aging cellars at their Marsala winery.  Today we’re going to explore a few of their wines from Etna and Vittoria in eastern and southeast Sicily. Vittoria The Vittoria DOC area is located in southeast Sicily where Donnafugata has 36 hectares of vineyards in production. Nero d’Avola and Frappato are grown in the territory of Acate and the wines produced here fall under the denomination of Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG and Frappato DOC. The vineyards enjoy a Mediterranean climate with cooling sea breezes during the summer and a large diurnal temperature range that helps to promote greater acidity in the grapes. The soils are medium-textured, sandy and mingled with calcareous tuff.  Vittoria Vineyards Photo credit: Donnafugata Bell’Assai Frappato di Vittoria DOC 2017 is made with 100% Frappato which is one of the most ancient Sicilian grape varieties. It is believed that its origins began in the Ragusa province around 300 years ago. The wine is cherry red with enticing aromas of a flower garden, spice, strawberry and cherry that segue onto the palate with additional notes of pepper and orange peel. This is a refreshing and light wine to drink. The tannins are soft and the flavors linger for a very satisfying finish. Drink as an aperitif or pair with fish, light pasta and cheese. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $28  Every artistic label of Donnafugata wine has a story called “Dialogue With Art”. And in the story of Bell’Assai, Donnafugata “wants to celebrate the love for the beautiful".  The name Bell’Assai means “very pretty” in Sicilian. Donnafugata’s Dialog With Art is as follows: “Bell’Assai is a girl with personality who offers to the sweet Sicilian breeze the fruits of the vineyards and the scents of the countryside. She represents the spirit of those enterprising families with the love for beauty which have always been animating the territory of Vittoria.” Etna Donnafugata has approximately 18 hectares of vineyard production on Etna, all in the DOC zone, located in eastern Sicily. The vineyards are on the north side of the volcano and are spread out among 5 districts, with the highest altitude of 750 meters above sea level in Randazzo. While this area benefits from the Mediterranean climate, the proximity of the active Mt. Etna volcano plays an important role in the surrounding soils. The soil is rich with volcanic nutrients thanks to volcanic ash and rock, which in turn provides nutrients to the grape vines and ultimately helps to create more concentrated flavor and complexity in the wines.  Etna Vineyards Photo credit: Donnafugata Sul Vulcano Etna Rosso, DOC 2016 is made with 100% Nerello Mascalese, a dark-skinned grape variety that is most commonly grown on the volcanic slopes of Etna. The wine is a soft ruby red with delicate aromas of cherry, strawberry, floral and spice. Tannins and acidity complement each other with a lovely palate of red fruit, sour cherry, sweet spice, and a dash of pepper on a lengthy finish. It is an expressive and impressive wine! Serve with antipasto, stews, grilled fish, meat and spicy Asian cuisine. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $35  Here is the Dialog With Art for Sul Vulcano: “A goddess-volcano stands out on the label. Its intense colors, red, yellows, iridescent blacks, are those of the highest active volcano in Europe. An ancient, powerful and feminine deity: “the Mountain” as Etna is called by the locals. “Sul Vulcano” is a declaration of love: a pure wine, fragrant and elegant, that lets you breathe the energy of this unique place located in the center of the Mediterranean.” I love the goddess-volcano!  Like all of Donnafugata’s wine labels, they tempt you and pull you into the emotions of the wine before you even have your first sip. And once you taste their wines, you will be magically transported to the mesmerizing island of Sicily!
To read more about Donnafugata, please select from the menu at right. Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com Over the past fifteen months I’ve had the opportunity to visit Sicily twice. I have experienced a breathtaking array of landscapes, sampled delicious food and savored many memorable wines from west to east and north to south. My exploration of Sicily has taken me to cities and regions such as Palermo, Mazara del Vallo, Menfi, Cammarata, Catania, Marsala and Pantelleria to name just a few.  Sicily is the largest Mediterranean island surrounded by the Ionian, Tyrrhenian and the Mediterranean seas. It is also the third largest producer of wine in Italy. The only parts of the island that I have not yet explored are the southeast and northeast wine regions. So, when I received a bottle of Donnafugata’s Floramundi Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG made from the grapes of the Vittoria area in southeastern Sicily, I was quite excited to tour this region through my taste buds!  Donnafugata has wineries and 283 hectares of vineyards located throughout Sicily, including historic aging cellars at their Marsala winery.  They have 18 hectares of vineyards in production in the Vittoria area, consisting of 11 hectares of Nero d’Avola and 7 hectares of Frappato.  Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG is considered one of the most noteworthy wines produced in Sicily and it is the only wine in Sicily with a DOCG status! These wines are a blend of the indigenous grapes Frappato and Nero d’Avola. No other grape varieties are allowed in the blend. Cerasuolo means ‘cherry-colored’ in Italian. Frappato is light-bodied with low tannins and flavors of cherries and strawberries. Nero d’Avola has weight and is full-bodied with a rich texture and dark red fruit flavors. Together, they complement and bring out the best in each other. Floramundi Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG 2016 is Donnafugata’s first vintage from the Vittoria vineyards. It is a blend of 70% Nero d’Avola and 30% Frappato. The color is cherry red with aromas of white peony, cherry, sweet apple, spice and pepper. The palate is layered with cherries, red berries, strawberry-rhubarb pie and a touch of spice and pepper on the finish. Soft tannins and a silky mouth-feel complete this fresh and juicy wine!  This is a wine that will drink well slightly chilled. Serve as an aperitif or with cheese, beef stew, hearty fish entrees and soup. Alcohol: 13.30% SRP: $30 As always, Donnafugata wine labels are whimsical and a work of art.  Flora means, "flower" in Latin. And in Roman mythology, Flora is the goddess of spring and flowering plants. Mundi, loosely translated is the connection between Heaven and Earth. The Floramundi label depicts a goddess type woman conjuring up magical gifts of flowers and fruit. As Donnafugata states “it is a dialogue between two souls, the elegant and sophisticated, Nero d’Avola and Frappato”. And indeed, this wine is a beautiful marriage!  To learn more about Donnafugata and Sicily, please click from the menu on the right side of this page.
Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com One doesn’t need a special occasion to open a bottle of wine in my home. There are no hard and fast rules for those “special” bottles to only be opened when celebrating something momentous. In fact, my only reason for saving a special bottle of wine these days is because I just can’t bring myself to open it! I love the anticipation of drinking the wine, but once the bottle is empty, there’s no going back! But little by little, I’ve been opening some gems such as 1969 and 1989 Petrus, 1961 Chateau Haut Brion and 1983 Far Niente Cabernet. Let me be clear that a “special” bottle of wine as far as I’m concerned doesn’t always mean that it is an old or rare vintage. It might convey sentimentality, be a particular grape or blend or country of origin that makes it special to me. And so, I finally opened a wine last evening that I considered special. I’ve been hovering over this particular bottle since I received it several months ago. The occasion for opening this wine you might ask? “Just because” is my answer.  Mille e una Notte is the flagship red wine of Donnafugata which is located in South-western Sicily. Giacomo and Gabriella Rallo, the founders of Donnafugata, wanted to create an iconic Sicilian red. With the help of Giacomo Tachis, enologist and “father of Super Tuscan wines”, they succeeded in fulfilling their dream. The first vintage of Mille e una Notte made its debut in 1995. The 2012 vintage of Mille e una Notte is an artistic blend of Nero d’Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and a small amount of other grapes. The grapes are hand harvested from Donnafugata’s Contessa Entellina Estate and other areas close by. The best grapes of the year are carefully selected and used for production. The wine spends 14 months in new French oak barriques and 36 months in the bottle.  I decanted the wine for about one hour prior to drinking so that the flavors could gracefully emerge. This is a very expressive wine with seductive aromas of dark berries, plum, sweet spice, cocoa and vanilla. The palate is layered with dark fruit, prune, blueberry, pepper and hints of oak, cocoa and herbs. The wine is rich with silky tannins and is a perfect blend of flavors that complement each other. The finish is long and the wine is elegant! It paired beautifully with seared scallops and pasta with roasted cherry tomatoes, asparagus and mushrooms. This wine has the aging potential of 20 years, but I am too impatient to wait that long! Alcohol: 14% SRP $80 As with every Donnafugata label, there is a story. To quote from their website: “The palace shown on the label is the one where Queen Maria Carolina took refuge fleeing from Naples and was the favorite house of the writer Tomasi di Lampedusa in Santa Margherita Belice. Gabriella Anca Rallo –founder of Donnafugata, with her husband Giacomo- captures the image and embeds it into the sky from “Arabian Nights”, full of stars and full of promise. The strong and passionate character of this wine has inspired maître chocolatier Ernst Knam in his creation of the “Mille e una Notte with chili” pralines.”  To learn more about Donnafugata and Sicily, please use the menu on the right to explore more stories.
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com The moment had arrived. I closed my eyes and inhaled the perfume emanating from my glass and I was instantly carried off to the magical island of Pantelleria.  Last spring I had the opportunity to visit with Donnafugata in Sicily. During my stay with them, we flew to Pantelleria Island for an amazing day of touring the Donnafugata vineyards where Zibibbo grapes are grown.  Although the Zibibbo vines barely had buds yet, it was an impressive tour that stretched throughout the whole island and covered many districts. You can read all about it at: Day 575 Donnafugata A 360 Degree Tour http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2017/05/day-575-donnafugata-a-360-degree-tour.html The “pour” in my glass that had me swooning was a Ben Ryé 2015 Passito de Pantelleria DOC, a naturally sweet wine made with 100% Zibibbo grapes.  Since it was our first snowfall, I thought it would be fun to open this delicious dessert wine, inviting in a touch of the Mediterranean.  The color is an intense amber with stimulating aromas of apricots, figs, raisins, floral and honey. All the aromas segue onto the palate offering a beautifully balanced wine with mineral notes and a hint of herbs. The combination of gentle sweetness and savory is perfection! This wine drinks beautifully as an aperitif or pair with cheese and dessert! Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $40 for a 375ml bottle If you’re running out of gift ideas, think no further! This is a fabulous wine to add to your holiday list! Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com
If you celebrated Thanksgiving, I hope that it was wonderful. My table was graced with family, friends, too much food and some lovely wines. These were the most popular wines of the evening.  The 2013 Laetitia Estate Pinot Noir is from the Arroyo Grande Valley, Central Coast, CA. Laetitia Vineyard & Winery is located in Southern San Luis Obispo County and is comprised of over 600 acres of vines. The first grape plantings were established in 1982 by French viticulturists from Epernay, France. In 1998, Selim Zilkha, owner of a wind power development company, bought the Laetitia property. With the expertise of Head Winemaker Eric Hickey and Vice President of Vineyard Operations, Lino Bozzano, they produce high quality wines with an emphasis on sustainability. Although the estate is widely known for their Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines, the Pinot Noir is an attention getter.   The Laetitia Estate Pinot Noir is impressive. The color is cherry red with delicious aromas of raspberry, cherry, floral and spice. The palate is layered with soft fruit, cherry, pomegranate, spice, cocoa and hints of oak. It paired well with the turkey and a variety of side dishes. In fact, I enjoyed sipping it with a decadent ganache filled chocolate cake. This wine was truly good to the last drop! Alcohol: 13.9% SRP: $25 Hands down, Donnafugata’s 2016 SurSur won the hearts of the white wine drinkers. SurSur is made with 100% Grillo grapes, an ancient indigenous variety from Sicily. These grapes were harvested from Donnafugata’s Contessa Entellina Estate Vineyard located in the Southwestern part of Sicily. I have tasted and reviewed the 2014 and 2015 SurSur vintages. By clicking “Donnafugata” on the menu found on the right side of this page, you will find many stories, history and wine reviews for Donnafugata.   The 2016 SurSur is pale yellow with playful aromas of citrus, pineapple, floral and tropical fruit. The palate offers a nice balance between citrus and light stone fruit and moderate acidity with a nice dose of minerality. This is a bright and refreshing wine with just the right amount of dryness on the finish that made it compatible to our Thanksgiving feast! Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $20 Both wines are available in the USA and abroad. Until next time…  Cheers!
Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com  All it took was opening a bottle of wine to transport me back to the enchanting island of Pantelleria that I visited this past April with my gracious host, Donnafugata. The 2016 Donnafugata Lighea Zibibbo Sicilia is 100% Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria) and is produced on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria.  Zibibbo is an aromatic grape originally from Egypt that ancient Arab settlers brought to the island. “Zibibbo” comes from the Arabic word “zabib” which means “raisins”. In addition to the zibibbo wines, Moscato and Passito di Pantelleria are made from this sweet grape.  An ancient Zbibbo vine on Pantelleria Island. Lighea is a dry version of Zibibbo. Although the aromas would lead one to believe that they are about to drink a sweet wine, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Donnafugata has created a beautiful balance of mildly sweet and dry wine. The color of Lighea is light yellow with exotic aromas of tropical fruit, oranges, stone fruit, honey and hints of white flowers. The palate is layered with apricots, citrus fruit and salty mineral notes. Lemon zest and apricots linger on a very long finish! Yummy!! This wine drinks well as an aperitif or serve it with fish, pasta and appetizers. Alcohol: 12.38% SRP $20  As always, there is a story behind Donnafugata labels. “From the disheveled tresses the color of the sun, seawater flowed over the green, wide-open eyes.” Thus Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa describes Lighea, the bewitching siren and principal figure in his novel. She has inspired the creation of a complex and innovative wine and an equally original label. “It was not easy to print this label”, Gabriella (founder of Donnafugata, with her husband Giacomo) recalled, “and preserve the thousand shadings of colors of Pantelleria Island, painted in the original drawing.” As I inhale the aromas of Pantelleria Island and sip this lovely wine, my thoughts return to a magical day. Pure bliss!  To learn more about Donnafugata and Pantelleria island, please read my story: Day 575 Donnafugata A 360 Degree Tour - The WineKnitter http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2017/05/day-575-donnafugata-a-360-degree-tour.html
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com  With the dog days of summer upon us, one might not be so inclined to reach for a red wine to drink as an aperitif. Most of us would probably opt for a chilled rosé or white wine. However, I decided to open a red wine to toast a few friends and the onset of evening. My selection was the perfect choice!  Donnafugata’s Sedàra 2015 is a delicious Sicilian red blend made with Nero d’Avola (the primary grape), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and a small percentage of other grapes from Sicily. The color is dark crimson with an inviting bouquet of dark berries, cherry, plum and spice. The palate offers layers of dark juicy fruit, pepper and soft tannins. This is a medium bodied wine with the aging potential of 4 to 5 years. Sedàra is an easy wine to drink. And in addition to drinking well as an aperitif, it will pair beautifully with meats, pastas, fish, cheese and fruit. Alcohol: 13.43% SRP: $16  Donnafugata produces enticing wines and I am a big fan of their whimsical labels. I'm especially captivated by their stories called “Dialogue with Art”. This is what Donnafugata say about Sedàra. “This wine carries in its heart the concreteness and sweetness of Angelica Sedara, the charming Claudia Cardinale, protagonist of the film “The Leopard” directed by Luchino Visconti. The label, which refers to the cellars at Contessa Entellina and the land in which the roots of this wine are deeply planted: in the foreground the green of the vineyard, on a white background, communicates the freshness and pleasantness of this wine and its most recent evolution.”  To read more about Donnafugata wines and the indigenous grapes of Sicily, check out my stories from this past May.
Happy Friday! Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com Perhaps my use of the term “magical” is played out, but I can’t seem to come up with a better description of the three days I recently spent as a guest of the Rallo family of Donnafugata in Sicily. This is not my first story about Donnafugata and their delicious wines, but it is my first visit to their wineries and vineyards at Contessa Entellina, Marsala and Pantelleria.  With a family history of making wine dating back to 1851, Giacomo Rallo (fourth generation) and his wife Gabriella created Donnafugata in 1983. Giacomo, who sadly passed away in May 2016, is considered a pioneer of a new generation of modern winemaking in Sicily, seeking a quality-based approach to winemaking and promoting the island’s cultural heritage. His wife Gabriella is a pioneer in her own right, being the inspiration and author behind most of the Donnafugata labels. The labels are quite whimsical and pay homage to various works of art and literature. The name Donnafugata means “woman in flight” and refers to a piece of literature called “Il Gattopardo”. The story is about a queen who found refuge in the part of Sicily where the company’s vineyards are located today. This image and logo capture the very essence of Gabriella.  In 1990, their children José and Antonio joined them at Donnafugata with José as head of management control & communication and Antonio as a dedicated agronomist, winemaker and head of the Consorzio Sicilia DOC. Together, the Rallo family has dedicated themselves to eco-sustainable management, biodiversity and paying special attention to their carbon footprint. My adventure began at Contessa Entellina along with three other journalists. In addition to seeing José Rallo again and meeting her spirited team of Baldo and Laura, I had the honor of being introduced to and spending time with Gabriella Rallo. After a lovely dinner and much needed sleep, we were ready to begin our tour of the vineyards the next day.  Gabriella Rallo and José Rallo Contessa Entellina is located in the heart of western Sicily. It is comprised of 270 hectares of vineyards and a 9 hectare olive grove. In addition to growing many indigenous grape varieties such as Ansonica, Grillo and Nero d’Avola, several international varieties are grown here as well. Grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Viognier are conducive to the climate of the Mediterranean. We had an in-depth tour of the vineyards led by Antonino Santoro, Donnafugata’s winemaker. He explained the pruning methods used, the more common being the spurred cordon pruning (leaving 6 to 10 buds per plant) and pruning with Guyot training which limits the vine’s lignified growth to the trunk. The vines grow in clay loam soil, which gives the grapes their unique characteristics. A slide show is below. In addition to our tour, we had the opportunity to sit with Antonino and José to taste the 2016 Anthilia and Sur Sur, the 2015 Vigna di Gabri and Sherazade and the Tancredi 2006 and 2012. All the wines were very good, but I especially enjoyed the Anthilia which is predominantly Catarratto grape. It has a beautiful fruity bouquet with a palate of stone fruit, soft citrus and the sea. The Vigna di Gabri is primarily Ansonica grapes. It has great intensity blended with herbal and citrus notes and a burst of floral on the finish. This is a wine that Gabriella wanted to create, believing in the “full-flavored fragrance” of Ansonica. This is a delicious wine!  We had a delightful lunch outside while enjoying the beauty around us. A bottle of Kabir was opened at the end of the meal. This is a naturally sweet wine made with Zibibbo grapes, which I will be discussing when we land in Pantelleria. The wine is very aromatic with floral, citrus and stone fruit and herbs that carries over to the palate and is beautifully balanced. After lunch, I walked around the property with Gabriella as she proudly pointed out all the trees and bushes that she personally planted so many years ago. My admiration for her definitely accelerated! As you go through the slide show, I think you’ll see why. Before we said our good-byes to José, Gabriella and Antonino, José, who is also an accomplished singer, sang a little song for her mother. It was a very special moment. Here is the video… The other journalists and I departed with Laura and Baldo for our next stop to the ancient family cellars in Marsala where the bottling and aging process take place. On our way there we did a little scenic sightseeing and stopped at the Salt Pans located between Trapani and Marsala. These are Europe’s oldest salt marshes. In the photos, you can see the windmills that are used to drain the water from the pans. When we arrived in Marsala, we had just enough time to check into the hotel, freshen up and enjoy a complimentary glass of Marsala before heading to the Aging Winery with Baldo for a vertical wine tasting and dinner.  When we arrived at the winery, we were met by Pietro Russo, winemaker. The historic cellars date back to 1851. It is a typical baglia layout with a dramatic courtyard. Wines produced at Contessa Entellina and Pantelleria are brought here for aging and bottling. The aging process takes place in steel, cement and wood (French oak). The underground barrique cellar was built in 2007 and is carved out of the tuff rock allowing for a reduction in the use of energy to maintain desired temperature and humidity. Tuff rock contains debris (ash) from volcanic eruptions. A slide show and video of the winery and cellar are below. This is a video of the underground Barrique cellar. Pietro led us through a vertical tasting of Chiarandà 2014, 2005 and 1996, Mille e una Notte 1996, 2008 and 2012 and Ben Ryé 2008 Limited Edition. The Chiarandà 2014 is made with Chardonnay grapes, whereas the 2005 and 1996 are made with Chardonnay and Ansonica grapes. The 2014 had more “fresh” fruit and was balanced with herbs and nice minerality. The 2005 was less fruity and more herb dominant. The 1996 Chiarandà had lost its edge, but there were still subtle notes of herbs and hints of muted fruit. The Mille e una Notte is made with Nero d’Avola and a small percentage of other grapes. The 2012 has a heady bouquet of lush fruit and spice. The palate offers layers of fruit with soft tannins and a long finish. The 2008 offers fresh cherries, spice and herbs. A touch of Syrah adds the softness and Petit Verdot rounds it out with medium tannins and licorice. The 1996 Mille e una Notte was showing its age. The color was leaning towards red/rust and the nose was indiscernible but fruit was present. The palate offered soft tannins, herbs and fruit. It was very drinkable! The Ben Ryé 2008 Limited Edition is made with Zibibbo grapes and is aged at least six years in the bottle before release. This naturally sweet wine embraces the palate with apricots and floral. It is rich and elegant as all the wines were that we tasted. Below is a slideshow of the vertical tasting and a sampling of our dinner that followed. The next morning we assembled in the hotel lobby at 7 am to catch a flight to Pantelleria Island. Baldo and Laura were our guides for the day. Below is a slide show of Pantelleria taken from plane.  Pantelleria is a volcanic island situated between Sicily and Africa. It is about 35 miles from Tunisia. Donnafugata has a winery and 68 hectares of vineyards that are spread out over 14 districts. The districts differ in soil, altitude, exposure and age of plants. Zibibbo (Moscato d’Alessandria) is the wine variety grown. The name zibibbo comes from the Arabic “Zibibb” which means dried grape. Some of the plants are more than 100 years old. The vines are cultivated by hand, planted in a basin and trained to grow low and horizontally on terraces bordered by dry-built lava stone walls. This system of planting allows the vines to withstand the wind on the island. The soil is sandy and originates from lava, thus the term “volcanic soil”. Zibibbo is harvested for a whole month beginning in mid-August. The best clusters are laid down in the sun for drying. In September, the grapes are picked for use in making Kabir, Ben Ryé and Lighea that are made here. The winery is located in the Khamma district of the island in a natural amphitheater of 13 hectares of terraces. In addition to grapes, Biancolilla olives, capers and figs are grown. Lava stone can be seen throughout the island and there are many miles of stone wall on the winery property. Rain barrels collect water, kept in water tanks and are used to irrigate. We toured the winery and vineyards including a special vineyard with vines that are over 100 years old. The Giardino Pantesco was a special treat to see. It is a circular fortress made from lava stone that protects the most beautiful orange tree from the micro-climatic conditions of the island. We also visited other districts including the experimental vineyard in Campo Barone. The slide show below depicts various districts of the island and a few scenic moments. In addition to visiting the vineyards, Laura and Baldo took us on a little sightseeing adventure. We stopped at Lago di Venere, which is the crater of a former volcano. It is a popular spot for swimming, mud bathing and is known for its healing qualities. Sese del Re was intriguing. It is a 5000 year old monument constructed of rocks of lava with sepulchral chambers within. And no…I didn’t venture inside! We also saw the Elephant’s Arch, a rock formation that leads from the town of Tracino and out to sea. It looks like an elephant’s trunk dipping into the sea. The view is breathtaking!  We ended the day with a leisurely lunch at La Vela, a wonderful seaside restaurant in Scauri Scalo resort. Of course, drinking Donnafugata wine complemented the meal! It was a perfect ending to a glorious day! Tired but happy, we boarded the plane back to Marsala where José was waiting to take us to a farewell dinner. My gratitude and a big thank you go out to the Rallo family for inviting me to be a part of the world of Donnafugata for a few days. Donnafugata produces high quality and elegant wines that express not only the uniqueness of the soil and climate of Sicily, but the wines also reflect the passion and dedication that goes into each bottle. I quote from their website “Every bottle of Donnafugata is a tale filled with emotion, a sensory fabric perceived in the mouth that remains in the heart and mind.” The next time you’re in a wine shop, pick up a bottle of Donnafugata wine and pour a little “Sicily” and “magic” into your glass. Saluti!
Penina My introduction to Donnafugata wine (owned and operated by the Rallo family) was this past February and it was a memorable one. Not only did I taste some delicious wines from Sicily, I also had the pleasure of meeting and lunching with Josè Rallo, one of the family members who is head of management control and communications manager. I encourage you to read my story about the family, their vineyards and wines at: http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2016/02/day-431-donnafugata.html as a prelude to this post. Donnafugata recently sent me two bottles of wine from their “Fresh and Fruity” collection, SurSur 2015 and Sherazade 2015, representing Sicily’s indigenous grape varieties.   SurSur is made with 100% Grillo grape, an ancient indigenous variety from Sicily. Having tasted the 2014 vintage several months ago, I was looking forward to trying the 2015 vintage. The wine was beautifully balanced with a soft straw color. The nose offered citrus, grapefruit, floral and peach. The aromas carried over to the palate with stone fruit, most notably peach and hints of pear. It had a creamy mouthfeel with pleasant notes of floral and vanilla on the finish. SurSur is lovely served as an aperitif or with any summer meal. To quote Donnafugata, “a fresh and fruity Grillo with a youthful spirit”. Alcohol: 12.73% Price: $23.00 (SRP)  Sherazade 2015 is made with 100% Nero d’Avola, another indigenous grape that is also considered Sicily’s most important red wine grape. Nero d’Avola is named after the city of Avola which is located in the far south of Sicily and is referred to as “the black grape of Avola”. The color of the wine was dark ruby, bordering on purple. The aromas were a playful blend of dark berries, violets and a touch of candy apple. The palate was fruit forward offering red berries and cherries with pepper and spice on the finish. Soft tannins and a lush mouthfeel make this a perfect “go to” wine for light meals. Alcohol: 12.86% Price: $23.00 (SRP) Donnafugata’s wine labels are whimsical and always tell a story. Most of the artwork is created or inspired by Gabriella Rallo. Each label interprets the personality of the wine in addition to paying homage to art and literature. Sur Sur mean cricket which comes from the classical Arabic language once spoken in Italy. Crickets are good luck and are part of the sounds of spring and summer. The SurSur label shows Gabriella as a young girl running barefoot through “flowers and fresh grass” following the singing crickets.  The Sherazade label represents the leading female character in The Arabian Nights. To quote Donnafugata “a fruity flesh voice, wrapped in a spicy drape, that tells you the fairy tale of this masterpiece of Oriental literature.”  If you’re looking for authentic Sicilian flavors, pick up a few bottles of these wines to drink throughout the rest of the summer and into the fall. Serve as an aperitif or enjoy with most any meal! www.donnafugata.it
Cheers! Penina |
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