Quick Facts about Sicily Wine

Wine Region:

  • Sicilia, Italy
  • 23 DOCs, 1 DOCG
  • 242,000 Acres (98,000 Hectares)

Sub Areas:

  • Western Sicily: Marsala, Pantelleria, Alcamo, Contea di Sclafani, Contessa Entellina, Delia Nivolelli, Erice, Menfi, Monreale, Salaparuta, Santa Margherita di Belice, Sciacca
  • Southeast Sicily: Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Eloro, Riesi, Noto, Siracusa, Vittoria
  • Northeast Sicily: Etna, Mamertino di Milazzo, Faro, Malvasia delle Lipari

Primary Grape Varieties:

  • WHITE: Catarratto, Grillo, Grecanico, Zibibbo, Insolia, Fiano
  • RED: Nero d’Avola, Frappato, Nerello Mascalese

Types of Wine:

  • WHITE
    • Catarratto
      • Primary Flavors: Lemon, Apple, Peach, Dried Flowers, Honey
      • Medium Body, Dry, Medium Acidity
    • Grillo
      • Primary Flavors: Grapefruit, Citrus Blossom, Thyme, Minerals, Saline
      • Medium Body, Dry, Medium-High Acidity
    • Grecanico
      • Primary Flavors: Vanilla, Lemon, Almond
      • Medium-High Acidity
      • DNA-wise identical to Garganega (grown in the Veneto region)
    • Zibibbo
      • Primary Flavors: Candied Citrus Fruits, Dried Fruit, Tropical Fruits
      • White Floral, Extremely Aromatic
      • Light Yellow to Amber/Golden
      • Smooth and Soft, Balanced, Great Structure
      • Also referred to  as Muscat of Alexandria
    • Insolia
      • Primary Flavors: Citrus, White Flowers, Ripe Fruit, Herbal and Menthol hints, Saline
      • Nutty Aroma
      • Mainly used to make Marsala wine
      • Indigenous to Campania, but grown in Sicily
    • Fiano
      • Primary Flavors: Honeydew, Asian Pear, Hazelnut Orange Peel, Pine
      • Honey notes that develop to more spicy and nutty notes
      • Medium-Light Body, Dry, Medium Acidity
      • Indigenous to Calabria, but grown in Sicily
  • RED
    • Nero d’Avola
      • Primary Flavors: Black Cherry, Prune, Black Plum, Licorice, Peppery Flavors
      • Aroma: fruity, blackberries
      • Color: Cherry or Ruby Red
      • Full Body, Dry, Slightly Acidic, Rounded
    • Frappato
      • Primary Flavors: Red Berry
      • Aroma: Raspberry, Red Cherry, Rose, Fresh Herbs
      • Color: Bright Translucent Ruby with Purple Hints
      • Light Body
    • Nerello Mascalese
      • Primary Flavors: Fruit flavors, Spice notes of Cinnamon and floral dried desert herbs
      • Aroma: Fruity scent of Red Berry fruits, spices, Vanilla, Tobacco
      • Color: Ruby Red
      • Strong Body, Dry, Fine Grained Tannins, Tingly Acidity

Wineries I have Visited: