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Sicilian white wines

Sicily is a land rich in history, art and culture, but at the same time it is a region with a deep and rooted wine tradition. Sicily enchants visitors not only with its beauties and sea, but also with its white wines, some of which have a history spanning thousands of years.

Tradition says that the Greeks were the first to bring the vines to Sicily, but we have to wait until 1700 before Sicilian wine reaches its maximum expansion, with an incredible diversity, which places it in a prominent position in the world of wine. Marsala is its best representative in the world.

Sicily has an area of ​​107,000 hectares of vines, of which 5% are in the mountains, 65 in the hills and 30 in the plains. Of the wine production, 16% is PDO, 44% PGI; out of the total, 53% are white wines. There are 1 DOCG, 23 DOC and 7 IGT denominations.

Sicilian white wines: a great variety

Each area of ​​Sicily has its own peculiarities in terms of viticultural cultivation, and each is characterized by white grape varieties. Sicilian white wines are usually characterized by very intense, characteristic aromas and flavors. Among the native varieties we cannot fail to mention Marsala, Alcamo DOC, Grillo, Inzolia, Zibibbo, Catarratto.

Grillo, in particular, is born from the crossing of the Zibibbo and Catarratto vines and is characterized by a straw yellow color and citrus and fruity aromas; fresh on the palate, it is a structured wine. The Catarratto white wine comes from an ancient native vineyard, used in the production of Marsala on a par with the Grillo and Inzolia grapes; acidic but balanced, it is characterised by a straw yellow color; you can recognize it by hints of orange blossom, jasmine and aromatic herbs.

Among the various Sicilian white wines, the Zibibbo is also worthy of mention, always vinified after an adequate period during which the grapes are dried. Nowadays it is largely produced in its dry version. The cultivation of grapes, especially in Pantelleria, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. Like all passito wines, it is a full-bodied wine, with a bright golden yellow color. The wine produced from the Inzolia grape is also very popular, characterized by low acidity and a yellow color with greenish hues. It is a fragrant and extremely delicate wine, with hints of citrus fruit, apricot and pear. The white wine Alcamo, on the other hand, has a straw yellow color and a dry or semi-dry flavor, fresh and balanced in the mouth, more intense in aroma and flavor. In order for a wine to be included in the Alcamo appellation, it must be produced 60% with Catarratto grapes and 40% from Inzolia, Grillo, Grecanico Dorato, Chardonnay, Müller-Thurgau and Sauvignon varieties.

Our wines and pairings

In our wine shop you will find the best white wines of Sicily, which are born from the union of grapes characteristic of the territory. The Maria Costanza Bianco wine, for example, is produced from Inzolia and Chardonnay grapes and is characterized by tropical and herbal scents, making it ideal with first courses with vegetable sauces or main courses with fish and shellfish; the Mozia wine, produced from Grillo grapes, is distinguished by its fresh taste and mineral flavor, ideal to accompany any fish dish, even raw.

Vigna San Francesco wine, on the other hand, is a fine and expressive Chardonnay with a distinctive flavor, perfect to pair with fish dishes, but also with vegetable dishes and aged cheeses; in our wine shop you can also find fine Zibibibbo wines, such as Grappoli del grillo wine to drink with fresh cheeses, fish risotto, fried or grilled fish.