Pietradolce and Vigna Barbagalli: Etna’s sustainable extreme flavour

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Pietradolce is a new estate among Etna producers, founded in 2005 by the Faro’s, a pioneer family in the green business development. The Faro’s is a leader in Europe and Middle East for growing flowers and plants, thanks to Venerando Faro, aged 72, from Aci Sant’Antonio (in Catania province) who invented and crated a Nature’s jewel, Radicepura, a natural park, water and energetic self-sufficient, in Acireale and a must-stop place for thousands of visitors every year.

Valle dell’Acate – “Iri da Iri”, the Cru of Cerasuolo di Vittoria that missed

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Today I introduce you an absolutely new wine, as, while I am writing it is going to be released on the domestic and foreign market. It is produced in a special area of “my” Sicily , the area of production is  Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico, the sole DOCG of the island. It is made by one of the most dynamic wineries of the area, probably a flagship winery of this place, Valle dell’Acate, whose name comes from this area, Valle dell’Acate of Dirillo, a small river and even the name of this South – Eastern town of Sicily, in the province of Ragusa. 

Firriato Gaudensius, the sparkling wine that releases volcano’s energy

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Perhaps not everyone knows that since some years italian winegrowers can create excellent classic method sparkling wines in Italian regions different from those known as “traditional”. Well! Today I want to tell you about an excellent sparkling wine that comes from grapes harvested on the slopes of Mount Etna, in Sicily. Of course everybody knows Mount Etna and knows where it is: it’s the highest active volcano in Europe with its 3,350 meters of altitude. All around the mountain – on different sides – the vine has been cultivated for centuries, up to altitudes of 1,100-1,200 meters.

Benanti Rovittello 2013, an elegant, deep and Oscar-worthy Etnean Red

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If you haven’t picked up on that by now, Sicily is my most beloved region: not just for oenological reasons, but above all because it’s where I was born, lived my youth and went through my school and university studies. You should know that every time I have a nice glass of Sicilian wine, I find it contains the perfumes, the colors, the flavors, the atmosphere, the very essence of my earth.

Carlo Hauner: the sun shining off the glass with the Malvasia delle Lipari Passito 2014 selection

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Is it a given to think that a sour wine from the South is supposed to give off heat, colours, scents of fresh and tropical fruit, and intense flavours? Well, picture it in your mind and close your eyes: it actually is! There is an amber wine that emits intense and unexpected aromas that will please and delight you: in fact, you will feel like you’re sitting on a deck chair, on a beach on a small Mediterranean island, sipping your cool wine.

Barone Sergio – Sergio 2010, the naked essence of Nero d’Avola

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Pure, unadulterated, naked in his essence. “Sergio is Nero d’Avola as it should be” in the mind of Baron Giovanni Sergio: without any contribution from wood. This red wine, so typical of Sicily, is derived from the island’s native grape par excellence: the Nero d’Avola. The Barone Sergio company is located in the heart of its typical cultivation area: southeastern Sicily, in the province of Syracuse. The vineyards are located in two districts: Le Mandrie and Gaudioso. This is the territory of Eloro Doc, one of the least known in the island.

Planeta Dorilli Vittoria 2014 – The perfect blend from South-East Sicily

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From the land known as the birthplace of Nero d’Avola comes Cerasuolo di Vittoria by Planeta.
Planeta is a winery that, over the past 25 years, has dedicated itself to spreading the fame of Sicilian wines worldwide. Production is spread over five different territories of the largest island in the Mediterranean, under the careful oversight of Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta: their forward-thinking, yet at the same time careful activity has allowed them to “churn” extremely high-quality wines out of all their cellars.

Leslie Sbrocco (CNN): Sicily Wines in USA? We want some Grillo and Frappato

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The last month in Sicily there was a female press tour, to promote the local wines and lands. It was organized by Doc Sicilia Consortium: five american journalists of specialized press and overseas lifestyle have visited eleven sicilian wine cellars and the beautiful places of the Oriental Sicily as Caltagirone downtown, Ragusa Ibla, Noto, Modica and Taormina. A tour was based on the stimulation of sensation through the wine, the winery and the story of the fascinating Sicily.

Sweet Island Wine – Malvasia delle Lipari 2014 Barone di Villagrande

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I want to tell you about a nice sweet wine that deserves to be known better: Malvasia delle Lipari Passito. Vintage 2014 of this wine is produced by Barone di Villagrande Estate which has its basement in the territory of Milo, to the south shadows of Mount Etna which is the highest active volcano in Europe (3.329 mt altitude). In June 2013 Etna was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.