Sicilian Wine (Mehr anzeigen - Adobe Stock)
There are two things that I associate with Italy: Pizza and wine. And the wonderful Mediterranean island of Sicily is home to some amazing varieties of wine that you should definitely add to your wine collection.
Maybe you think of Italian wine as being from the Prosecco or Chianti areas, but Sicily is actually one of the highest-producing wine regions. This island epitomizes the Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild, rainy winters. Add the hilly, sometimes mountainous, landscape and you have many microclimates that create some amazing wines produced here.
The most common question I get while living here is, “which wine should I try?” and it is one of my favorite questions to decipher with people. I am a fanatic of dry red wines like Chianti and Bordeaux, so I love the Sicilian Nero d’Avola, but I typically bring the slightly milder Etna Rosso to dinner parties as it is often more palatable for larger groups that aren’t into a dry wine.
There are a couple of geographic regions on the island that produce more specific varieties as well. Many have been granted the coveted Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) and Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (DOCG) labels. A DOCG label is the highest designation of quality and local origin for wine in Italy. Sicily has just one DOCG variety: The Cerasuolo di Vittoria. This wine variety first started as a DOC and was upgraded to a DOCG in 2005. To have the precious designation, the wine must come from the region around the commune of Vittoria, Sicily. It must also be made with the two Sicilian grape varieties: between 50 and 70 percent Nero d’Avola grapes and the remainder made up of the Frappato grape. The regulation also follows strict cropping and aging rules, and the wines must be a minimum of 13 percent alcohol. Cerasuolo di Vittoria also has two quality categories. One is the Rosso aged for eight months while the other is a Classico, aged for at least 18 months.
Sicily is not only known for their reds; they have a beautiful variety known as Grillo that is often compared to a Pinot Grigio. The Etna Biancos is another fresh-tasting white wine worth trying.
While enjoying your time on the island of Sicily I definitely recommend trying one of the Sicilian varieties at a restaurant during dinner. If you have the time, make it out to a local winery and enjoy an aperitif or a full meal service. Wine tastings in Sicily, for the most part, have always been a fun time, and you will leave being surprised at the pours you were given. Come prepared and have an open mind.
Make sure you check off trying at least one Sicilian wine while in Sicily.
