Sicilia

Aka Insolia. Native Sicilian planted throughout the island. Most diffuse sub-variety Verde Cappuccia – a medium – early ripener, adding softness and flavour to a white blend. Also found along the Tuscan coast known as Ansonica, becoming ever more popular in Sicily. Gives a mediu bodied wine of salty fruit.

Contea di Sclafani, Contessa Entellina, Menfi, Sambuca di Sicilia, Santa Margherita di Belice, Marsala

See Piedmont

See Piedmont

Native white of Etna … now quite rare – some 50 hectares. Grown on Etna's slopes it can have high levels of both tartaric and malic acidity and hence ther malolactic is encouraged. However, without the malolactic wines have the ability to age well over ten years, developing smokey overtones.

Etna Bianco

A ancient native white of Sicily with unknown origins but long enough here to produce 2 sub-varities: Catarratto Bianco Commune and Catarratto Bianco Lucido. Both are productive but the former more so.

Alcamo, Menfi, Marsala

A white variety and a minor in the Marsala mix, some say of Arab origin (from Damascus).

Marsala

Unknown origin but first identified some 300 or so years ago in the Vittoria area of Southern Sicily. It may have some relation with Calabria's Gaglioppo. Tends to produce wines of juicy fruit, some earthy characteristics but quite restrained. Better to be blended as with the wine it is famous for – Sicily's only DOCG – Cerasuolo di Vittoria. Famous among growers for being difficult to harvest because of uneven ripening.

Cerasuolo di Vittoria

Also in Sicily (as well as Umbria) this white variety has claim to be related to Garganega. Orinally of Greek origin, first introduced to Sicliy and then spreading through the peninsular up to the Veneto. Although of good potential in quality terms its diffusion in Sicily is surprisingly limited (mostly to the west).

Contessa Entellina

2 opinions on origins of this white grape: introduced by the Phoenicians or only recently. Some even suggesting it is of Puglian origin. Once used for Marsala production (now mainly Catarratto), now a still wine favourite due to ability of sugar production and interesting aromatics, and, if picked in August, underpinning acidity.

Contessa Entellina, Alcamo

Aka Ansonica. Native Sicilian planted throughout the island. Most diffuse sub-variety Verde Cappuccia – a medium – early ripener, adding softness and flavour to a white blend. Also found along the Tuscan coast known as Ansonica, becoming ever more popular in Sicily.

Contessa Entellina, Alcamo, Menfi

Great confusion abounds with the origins and identity of this grape. Malvasia is a catch all name for a group of varieties whose scions perhaps originiated in the same Greek locality (the Peloponnesian port of Monemvasia). In truth, the Venetians in the middle ages transported various wines, sweet, dry, aromatic and not under the general name Malvasia – perhaps the reason for the disparity. However, here it has found its home on an island midway between the mainland and Sicily – Lipari and makes an outstanding passito and vino Liquoroso.

Malvasia delle lipari

Named after the plain of Mascali at Etna's foot and known locally as niureddu mascalisi and grows up to 1000 m (v high for a red grape!) on the slopes of Etna. A late ripener (around October) this is mostly found in the North East of Sicily. It is capable of making very high quality Pinot Noiresque style wines. However, when grown to high volume in other parts of Sicily this quality is unrecognisable – leading to the assumption that it is the terrior of Etna rather than the grape that has quality?

Etna Rosso, Faro

This red grape is grown mainly in the west of Sicily and has a bitter taste but good extraction of colour. AKA Pignatello. Used mainly in blends, but decreasing volumes.

Eloro, Contea di Sclafani

See Tuscany

See Tuscany

See Tuscany

See Tuscany

A breathtakingly beautiful area between Palermo and Trapani, hilly, rugged and wild. Rosso – a blend of above grapes Bianco – a blend of above grapes Varietal – Ansonica/ Inzolia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d'Avola, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Grecanico, Grillo, Merlot, Sauvignon, Syrah

Catarratto Bianco Commune, Catarratto Bianco Lucido, Grecanico, Ansonica (Inzolia), Grillo, Chardonnay, Muller Thurgau, Sauvignon, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d'Avola, Sangiovese,Frappato, Perricone, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah

One of sicily's most prestigious and ancient wines, hence the only Sicilian wine to have DOCG status. The vineyard area is on the southern shores of Sicily to the east, around the historic town of Ragusa. The blend gives a wine that is not only juicy but also very mineral and unique in the Italian wine offering.

Nero d'Avola, Frappato

Rosso – a blend of above grapes Bianco – a blend of above grapes Varietal – Ansonica, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Grecanico, Merlot. A DOC that is fairly typical for Sicily, unfortunately: a name that means very little and DOC rules that do not promote the local land compared to other areas of Sicily which happens to be in the central western area.

Catarratto Bianco Lucido, Grecanico Dorato, Ansonica (Inzolia), Grillo, Chardonnay, Muller Thurgau and/or Sauvignon, Nero d'Avola, Syrah

Carricante, Catarratto Bianco Comune + Lucido, Trebbiano Minnella Bianca, Nerello Mascalese, Nerello mantellato (aka Nerello cappuccino)

The volcanico is the most majestic of backdrops for these classy wines. The drama of the place is astounding when one visits: snowcapped with a plume of smoke surrounded by vineyards (not on the western slopes) which have been overlane with layers of lava, some alarming recent …. One of the most awesome winegrowing areas to visit in the world. The wines, when they are good, are almost Burgundian in character; the reds silky tannins, heady perfumes and the whites can be aged for well over a decade. Rosso – Nerello Mascalese, Nerello mantellato (aka Nerello cappuccino) Bianco – Carriacante, mostly.

Carricante, Catarratto Bianco Comune + Lucido, Trebbiano Minnella Bianca, Nerello Mascalese, Nerello mantellato (aka Nerello cappuccino)

The volcanico is the most majestic of backdrops for these classy wines. The drama of the place is astounding when one visits: snowcapped with a plume of smoke surrounded by vineyards (not on the western slopes) which have been overlane with layers of lava, some alarming recent …. One of the most awesome winegrowing areas to visit in the world. The wines, when they are good, are almost Burgundian in character; the reds silky tannins, heady perfumes and the whites can be aged for well over a decade. Rosso – Nerello Mascalese, Nerello mantellato (aka Nerello cappuccino) Bianco – Carriacante, mostly.

A blend of the above red grapes whose vineyards overlook the straits of Messina in the northeast corner of Sicily. Once, not so long ago, a huge exporter of wine to Bordeaux and Burgundy, Faro is making a come back for the wines of Messina.

Nerello Mascalese, Nocera, Nerello Cappuccio, Calabrese, Gaglioppo, Sangiovese

The Lipari Islands are a volcanic archipelago to the east of the Sicilian "mainland". This sweet wine, made in tiny quanitites, has a long history in Italian enological legend. It can be made as a lower alcohol, passito or liquoroso version but it is always sweet.

Malvasia Bianca, small additions of Corinto Nero

Italy's answer to the Portuguese dominance of fortified wines, famously put on the map by various Englishmen such as John Woodhouse, Benjamin Ingham and Horatio Nelson no less. Commercial decline however has seen the quality decline and also its position in the market. The French surprising are a large importer – for cooking. There are essentially 2 colours: Ambro or Rubino and different legths of ageing: fine, superiore, stravecchio which can also be a solera.

Grillo, Catarratto, Ansonica, Damaschino, Perricone, Calabrese, Nerello mascalese

On Sicily’s south coast, Menfi has a well documented ancient tradition of winemaking. Recently it has been the centre of uch innovation on the Island. Rosso – Blends of the above Bianco – Blends of the above Varietal – Ansonica (Inzolia), Grecanico, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d'Avola, Syrah, Sangiovese Bonera - Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d'Avola, Syrah, Sangiovese Feudo dei Fiori - Ansonica (Inzolia), Grecanico, Chardonnay

Catarratto Bianco Lucido, Grecanico, Ansonica (Inzolia), Grillo, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d'Avola, Syrah

As above but only in the passito version

Zibibbo (aka Moscato)

In natural or passito versions this possibly the best known of Italy's prestigious dessert wines made on the Island of Pantelleria between Sicily and Tunisia.

Zibibbo (aka Moscato d'Alessandria)

Catarratto Bianco Commune, Catarratto Bianco Lucido, Grecanico, Ansonica (Inzolia), Grillo, Chardonnay, Catarratto, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d'Avola, Perricone

Catarratto Bianco Lucido, Grecanico Dorato, Ansonica (Inzolia), Grillo, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d'Avola, Syrah, Sangiovese

Catarratto Bianco Commune, Catarratto Bianco Lucido, Grecanico, Ansonica (Inzolia), Grillo, Chardonnay, Muller Thurgau, Sauvignon, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d'Avola, Sangiovese, Frappato, Perricone, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah.

Nerello Mascalese, Nocera, Nerello Cappuccio, Calabrese, Grillo, Insolia.

Nerello Mascalese, Nocera, Nerello Cappuccio, Calabrese, Perricone, Grillo, Insolia

Moscato (aka Moscato Giallo)

Moscato Bianco

Nerello Mascalese, Nocera, Caberbet Sauvignon, Calabrese, Grillo, Insolia

Moscato Bianco

Cabernet Sauvigon, Grecanico, Chardonnay, Grillo, Insolia, Merlot, Nero d'Avola, Syrah, Sangiovese, Merlot

Grecanico, Grillo, Insolia, Nero d'Avola, Sangiovese

Cabernet Sauvigon, Grecanico, Chardonnay, Grillo, Insolia, Merlot, Nero d'Avola, Syrah, Sangiovese, Merlot

Calabrese, Frappato, Nero d'Avola, Insolia