Sicilian Wine (Mehr anzeigen - Adobe Stock)
There are two things that I associate with Italy: Pizza and wine. The wonderful Mediterranean island of Sicily is home to some amazing varieties of wine that you definitely should add to your growing wine collection! Maybe you think of Italian wine of the Prosecco or Chianti areas, but Sicily is actually one of the highest-producing wine regions. This island definitely emulates the Mediterranean climate, hot summers and mild, rainy winters. Now add the hilly, sometimes mountainous landscape, and you are given many microclimates that create some amazing wines produced here.
The most common question I have seen living here has been “Which wine should I try?” and it is one of my favorite questions to decipher with people. I personally am a fanatic of dry red wines like Chianti and Bordeaux, so I love to try the Sicilian Nero d’Avola but I typically bring Etna Rosso to dinner parties as it is often more palatable for larger groups that aren’t into wine. Sicily is not only known for their reds; they do have a beautiful variety known as Grillo most compared to Pinot Grigio.
Geographically on the island, there are a couple of regions that are known to produce more specific varieties as well as be granted the coveted DOC and DOCG labels. A DOCG label is the highest designation of quality for wine and Sicily has just one that has that label: 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 and made of the two Sicilian grape varieties, Nero d’Avola containing between 50 percent to 70 percent and finished with Frappato. 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 being a Rosso only aged for eight months and then the Classico which is aged for at least 18 months.
While enjoying your time on the island of Sicily I definitely recommend trying one of the Sicilian varieties at a restaurant during dinner, but 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. Almost all of the tastings I have participated in had generous samples, with tasting-sized pours that were more of a normal-size glass of wine. Come prepared and have an open mind!
Make sure you check off trying at least one Sicilian wine. The easiest ones you will be able to find will be Nero d’Avola, Etna Rosso, or a Frappato for red wines, and if you like white wines I’d suggest Grillos or Etna Biancos. There are so many other varieties that come from this Mediterranean island.
