Sicily General Flashcards
Who is credited with the discovery of Marsala?
John Woodhouse
- Englishman
- Discovered on Sicily’s western edge
- 1773, first to fortify to ensure safe shipment to his home country
Political event that created the original demand for Marsala
The War of the Spanish Succession
(England v. France)
Two biggest wine producers in the latter part of the 20th century (accounting for nearly all production other than Marsala)
- Corvo-Duca di Salaparuta
- Conte Tasca d’Almerita / Regaleali
Sicily
Producers that have led the resurgence of higher quality / lower yields in the 70s, 80s, and 90s
- Marco de Bartoli (Marsala)
- Planeta
- Palari
- COS
Narrow waterway that separates Sicily from Calabria
Straight of Messina
Sicily
Vineyard area
appx 120,000 ha (2022)
* most vineyard area in Italy
Sicily
Italy rank in production
4th largest in Italy
* 5.9 million hl (65 million cases)
* Although the most vineyard area planted in Italy (appx 120,000 ha), lower yields, lower planting density, and the prevalence of old bush vines, only ranked #4
Sicily
Most planted grape
Catarratto
- 7th most cultivated grape in Italy, despite only vineyards in Western Sicily (2024)
Sicily
Most planted red grape
Nero d’Avola
Sicily
Major white grapes
- Cattaratto
- Carricante
- Inzolia
- Grillo
- Grecanico
- Zibbibo
Nero d’Avola synonym
Calabrese
Zibbibo synonym
Muscat of Alexandria
Sicily
Sole DOCG
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
* Est 2005
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
Grapes
- 50-70% Nero d’Avola
- 30-50% Frappato
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
Styles
Rosso only
* Cerasuolo di Vittoria
* Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Soils
Iron-rich clay over limestone
DOC contiguous with Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Vittoria DOC
- Rosso: 50-70% Nero d’Avola, 30-50% Frappato
- Novello: 80% Nero d’Avola and Frappato
- Varietal: Calabrese (Nero d’Avola), Frappato, Ansonica (Inzolia)
Sicily
Number of DOCs
23 DOCs (2024)
* 38% of production at DOC/G level
d
Sicily
1st DOC
Etna DOC, 1968
Sicily
Sweet wine DOCs
- **Marsala DOC (W)
- Moscato di Noto DOC and Moscato di Siracusa DOC** (SE; east of Vittoria)
- Malvasia delle Lipari DOC (N; off the coast)
- Moscato di Pantelleria DOC & Passito di Pantelleria DOC (SW; off the coast)