One
of the places I've traveled to for a weekend many years ago and am
dying to go back to in Italy is it's largest island, Sicily. One of
the popular wineries of the island that I've written about a couple
times now is Donnafugata.
I'm pleased to share with you some of their latest releases
including their 2016 SurSur Grillo, the 2016 Lighea Zibibbo and the
2015 Sedara blend.
Donnafugata SurSur
2016 – Grillo Sicilia DOC
Grillo
is the indigenous white grape of Sicily that typically lends a lot of
tropical flavors due to the intense heat and sun of the island
allowing the grapes to reach full ripeness. The name of the grape,
grillo, translates to cricket, and is also a representation of good
luck. In ancient times the Arabs were one of the cultural influences
that inhabited Sicily and cricket in Arabic means sur sur, hence the
name of the wine.
This
wine smells like spring in a glass. Fresh, white flowers and a
little grassiness. Immediate peach notes hit the palate with some
melon. A pleasurable, easy drinking, refreshing white wine (SRP
$23)
Donnafugata Lighea
2016 - Zibibbo Sicilia DOC
Another
grape stemming from the arabic word, zabib, meaning dried grapes is
zibibbo. It's called zibibbo in Sicily, but it's also known as
moscato and part of the muscat family. It is typically best known
for producing the wine, passito di pantelleria, hailing from the
island of Pantelleria off the western coast of Sicily. In one of my
favorite Italian books, Vino Italiano, they describe a good wine of
this area “is like biting into the plumpest golden raisin you can
imagine”. It can also be produced in a dry style as is found here
with Donnafugata's Lighea. The labeling shows off the vibrant colors
that radiate off the island of Pantelleria.
Another
fragrant, florally wine of pears and tropical luscious fruits also
found on the palate. It's a dry, round wine with nice minerality .
(SRP $20)
 |
| Donnafugata's Pantelleria estate |
2015 Donnafugata Sedàra - Red Sicilia DOC
Sicily's
most prominent red grape, nero d'avola (also known as calabrese), is
what predominately makes up Donnafugata's Sedàra wine. In addition,
it is blended with cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah and additional
grapes. I love the labeling of Donnafugata and the Sedara shows the
cellars of Contessa Entellina and the land in which the grapes are
grown. Nero d'avola typically produces dark, inky colored wines
comprised on dark berries with good structure and tannin. Many may
compare it to syrah.
Filled
with loads of red fruits including cherries and strawberries. A
fresh, crisp red with some spice and soft tannins. SRP $16
 |
| Contessa Entellina estate |
*These
wines were received as samples, but as always opinions are my own. Pictures mostly sourced from Donnafugata.
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