Sicily General Flashcards
Strait that separates Sicily from the Italian peninsula
Strait of Messina
(3 km, 2 miles at narrowest point)
Diego Planeta
- Renewed focus on quality in 1970s and 1980s
- 1973, became president of Cantine Settesoli, a high-quality co-op based in Menfi
- 1985, became president of state-owned Istituto Regionale della Vite e del Vino (IRVV)
- Believed industry had to be exposed to what was happening outside Sicily, sending enologists abroad to study modern viticulture and winemaking techniques
- IRVV planted experimental vineyards to study both native and international grape varieties
Sicily
Vineyard area planted
appx 120,000 ha
* most in Italy
* (119,250 ha, 295,000 acres, 2022)
Sicily
Wine production
- 4th highest production in Italy
- Although most vineyard area planted in Italy, lower yields, lower planting density, and prevalence of old bush vines, only 4th largest in production
- 5.9 million hl (65 million cases, 2022)
- Only 20% of wine is bottled on the island; much of it is still shipped in bulk to the mainland to be bottled or blended into other wines
Sicily
Number of DOCGs
1 DOCG, Cerasulo di Vittoria DOCG
Sicily
Number of DOCs
23 DOCs (2024)
* 38% of production is at DOC/G level
Sicily
Number of IGPs
7 IGPs
Sicily
Majority of production
- 2/3 production is white
- 1/3 is red and rosato
- Largest concentration of plantings in the western part of the island
Sicily
Most planted variety
Catarratto
Sicily
2nd most planted variety
Nero d’Avola
Sicily
Main provinces of production on the western side of the island
- Trapani
- Agrigento
- Palermo
Sicily
Oldest evidence of viticulture
6,000 years ago
* Archeological discovery of wine residue in terra-cotta jars, inside a cave at Monte Kronio, SW Sicily, 2017
albarello
bush vines
Catarratto
Name origin
Named for the cataracts, or waterfalls, a reference to the high amount of amount of wine it produces
Catarratto
Two main biotypes
- Catarratto Comune - higher sugar, lower acidity
- Catarratto Lucido - more compact bunches, can be more refined
- Often interplanted and genetically identical, but have separate entries in Italian national registry
- Both offspring of Garganega
Carricante
Name origin
caricare, “to load
* as in loading up a cart or donkey with a large volume of grapes
Nero d’Avola
aka
Calabrese
* Officially listed as Calabrese in the national registry
Nero d’Avola
Name origin
Named for the town of Avola, coast of SE Sicily
Sicily’s 1st DOC
Etna, 1968
Etna
Influential producers that brought attention to the area in 1980s and 1990s
* Benanti family
* Salvo Foti, winemaker
Etna
Vineyard elevation
300-1,000 m+
* Begins at 300 m (980 ft)
* Northern slope - DOC allows plantings up to 800 m (2,600 ft), largest number of producers, most renowned for red grapes
* Eastern slope - Can be planted above 900 m (3,000 ft)
* Southern slope - Can be above 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
* Eastern and Southern slopes, because of higher altitudes, more white grapes
Etna DOC
Bianco
Grape requirements
Min 60% Carricante, plus Catarratto(s), Minella Bianca, Grecanico Dorato, and other white grapes
Etna DOC
Bianco Superiore
Grape and commune requirements
- Min 80% Carricante
- Must come only from the commune of Milo, on the eastern slope
Etna DOC
Rosso, Rosato, Spumante
Grape requirements
- Min 80% Nerello Mascalese
- Plus, Nerello Cappuccio and even white grapes
Faro DOC
Style and grape requirements
- Red wines only
- 45-60% Nerello Mascalese
- 15-30% Nerello Cappuccio
- 5-10% Nocera
- Max 15% Nero d’Avola, Gaglioppo, and/or Sangiovese.
Mamertino DOC
Grape requirements
White - based on Grillo and Inzolia (Ansonica)
Reds - based on Calabrese (Nero d’Avola) and Nocera
Off the northern coast of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea, a short ferry ride from Milazzo, are the Aeolian Islands, also referred to as the Lipari Islands, named for the largest and most populated island. In addition to Lipari, the principal islands are Salina, Vulcano, Panarea, Stromboli, Alicudi, and Filicudi. The archipelago was formed by volcanic activity, and the islands of Stromboli and Vulcano still have ongoing eruptions. Salina has the most vineyard plantings.
Mamertino DOC
Location, soil, geography
- Near port town of Milazzo
- Soils: more iron and a brown tint
- Area more protected from wind and rainfall (vs. Faro), due to the north-facing foothills of Peloritani and Nebrodi mountains
Aeolian Islands
Principal islands
- Aeolian Islands aka Lipari Islands, named for largest and most populated island
* Salina, Vulcano, Panarea, Stromboli, Alicudi, Filicudi - Archipelago formed by volcanic activity, islands of Stromboli and Vulcano still have ongoing eruptions
- Salina has the most vineyard plantings
Malvasia delle Lipari DOC
Styles
Grape varieties
- Sweet white, passito, fortified wines
- 92–95% Malvasia di Lipari (Malvasia di Lipari is the grape variety, Malvasia delle Lipari is the DOC)
- Must also include 5–8% Corinto Nero
- Covers all the islands
Corinto Nero
- Local red grape some believe is a mutation of Sangiovese
- Must be 5-8% of the blend for Malvaisa delle Lipari DOC
- Gives wines a coppery tint
Malvasia di Lipari
Genetically identical to Calabria’s Greco Bianco, Sardinia’s Malvasia di Sardegna, Madeira’s Malvasia Candida, Croatia’s Malvasia Dubrovačka, and Spain’s Malvasía de Sitges
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
Year established
2005
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOC
Grape Requirements
50–70% Nero d’Avola
30–50% Frappato
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOC
Classico subzone
- Surrounds most historic growing area
- Require longer aging, March 31 of 2nd year following harvest (about 18 months)
