Product Line
Sicily
A mere generation ago, there mightn't have been much to say here about Sicilian wine. Apart from Marsala, the reds were mostly sold in bulk to fatten up pale wines from cooler European vintages, or lost in the production of vermouth somewhere.
But with it's special place at the confluence of Mediterranean and North African cultures, there's been a modern day renaissance in wine and food here that is nothing short of a remarkable. Australians have an affinity for this blend of warm Mediterranean climate, migrant culture and vibrant food. Sicily just makes sense.
Red or white?
Red production is dominated by Nero d'Avola, grown in most regions across the island. Ranging from juicy medium bodied cherry fruited styles blended with the lighter Frappato, to sturdy dark, structured and plummy numbers that will appeal to Shiraz lovers.
Nerello Mascalese is exciting for its structured, fragrant and tannic wines, coming on high from the steep volcanic slopes of the still very active Mount Etna.
Surprisingly, there's also plenty of white planted here, chief among them Carricante. Distinctively refreshing with notes of smoke, cut herbs and lemon tonic.
Grapes
Carricante, Grillo, Nero d'Avola, Frappato, Nerello Mascalese
Favourite Producers
Occhipinti, COS, Terre Nere, Tenuta Aglaea, Feudo Montoni, Planeta, De Bartoli, Girolamo Russo, Passopisciaro
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Occhipinti Santa Margherita (SM) Bianco 2023Some years ago, my passion always growing for white wines and my desire to produce white wine to recount the limestone and the sense of the rock of the Iblei Mounts, I started to search for a place where to plant a new vineyard. In 2016 after some research, I found Santa Margherita, a contrada I fell in love with, at the base at the foot of Chiaramonte Gulfi, an ancient village on the Iblei Mounts. The vineyard, sited at 490 meters on the level of the sea, surrounded by pine forest, oaks and secular olive trees, is divided in 4 parcels on sandy calcareous marl of whitish colour, with sand and yellowish white calcarenites. They are sediments that comes from sea since Pleistocene period. The parcels Costa Sud and Costa Nord, with a training system method called alberello, they have rich soil about gypsum and fossils and give complexity and salinity. The parcels Terrazza and Trefile, with a training system, alberello growing on trellis, are rich about limestone and give more pulp and acidity. The variety? The Grillo. White grape variety, with great personality, very diffused in west Sicily and since last ten years in East Sicily too with historic name of Riddu. Probably it is a cross of Zibibbo and Catarratto. It has a good aromatic intensity, that remind you of typical citrus notes accompanied by spicy vegetal notes and white flowers. It has a good balance between the alcoholic sensation and the acidity, and it is particularly savory. In this way, I would like that this variety be considered an intermediary, a tool available to the terroir and not the aim. The wine, after a short maceration of 48 hours, ferments spontaneously in concrete and oval Austrian oak barrel, in which it has aged for 12 months. ARIANNA OCCHIPINTI2023GrilloItaly482$150.00 As low as $135.00 -
Marco de Bartoli Marsala Oro Superiore Riserva DOC Marsala Superiore (Grillo) 1988 500mlThe 1988 Marsala Superiore Oro Riserva is a dark amber color with orange hues. It opens with a spice-box bouquet that takes all the confections of Autumn and Christmas blended with dried apricots, peaches and cedar shavings. It's silky smooth yet lifted and decidedly savory, with a burst of ground ginger and sour citrus complicating its remnants of tart orchard fruit. Butterscotch comes together with clove and golden raisin as the 1988 finishes impossibly long and potent. It shows just a touch of forgivable heat as suggestions of hazelnut linger on and on. More like a brown spirit than a wine, the 1988 is irresistible. ERIC GUIDO1988Dessert, GrilloItaly482$310.00 As low as $279.00 -
Marco de Bartoli Marsala Vergine Riserva DOC Marsala (Grillo) 1988 500mlThe only vergine riserva ever made by de Bartoli who was encouraged to try this style by Berry Bros and Rudd
The 1988 Marsala Vergine Riserva mixes amber with red hues, lifting up dusty and savory with notes of cave-aged gouda, quince, baked apple and clove. With time in the glass, it gains in volume, evolving to show rich dark chocolates and dried roses. There are depths of texture here, yet it's wonderfully balanced by vibrant acidity as salted caramel and exotic spices wash across the palate, leaving a coating of mineral-drenched orchard fruits under an air of burnt sugar and tobacco. The experience goes on and on, as minutes can go by, and you're still not just tasting but feeling the 1988's glycerol heft lingering incredibly long. This edition of the Vergine Riserva was bottled in 2019, which is stated on the front label. ERIC GUIDO
Toasted hazelnuts, mahogany, hard cheese touches, toast and spice. Touch of sweet fruit to enter, then toasted hazelnut and walnut. Spice, some chew, with a very long, pain d'épices and toasted hazelnut finish. Salty tang. 19% TIM JACKSON MW
1988Dessert, GrilloItaly482$360.00 As low as $324.00