FINE SICILIAN WINES

5 Unique and Exclusive Reds and 5 Whites

What are the best Sicilian wines to buy?

Nero d'Avola, Carricante, Nerello Mascalese, but also Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon... Sicily offers excellent wines from Menfi to Etna, from Marsala to Syracuse.

The different Sicilian wine areas offer a range of tasting experiences truly suitable for everyone.
Sicily is a true paradise for wine lovers, where the beauty of the landscape blends with the dedication of the producers.

What are we talking about:

  • Production areas of the finest wines
  • The most common vines
  • Native vines
  • International vines
  • DOCG, DOC and IGT recommended by our sommeliers
  • The numbers of Sicilian wine
  • 5 fine and exclusive Sicilian red wines
  • 5 fine and exclusive Sicilian white wines

The production areas of the finest wines in Sicily

The Sicilian territory, predominantly hilly and mountainous, has various wine-making areas. The main ones are these:

119.000

Hectares of vineyards

31.000

Organic hectares

6.2 million Hl

Produced in 2021

The most common vines

Cattarratto (white berry) is the most widespread vine in Sicily and gives life to fresh and aromatic wines, ideal for accompanying fish and seafood dishes typical of Sicilian cuisine. For black grapes, the most cultivated is Nero d'Avola , an ancient variety of black grape that gives intense and full-bodied wines, rich in hints of ripe fruit and spices.

In addition to native grapes, Sicily is also a land of international vines that have found the perfect setting here such as Syrah , Cabernet Sauvignon , Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc .

Typical native vines

The native Sicilian vines are the following:

🍷 Nero d'Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Frappato, Perricone, Nocera (black berry).
🥂 Catarratto, Grillo, Carricante, Damaschino, Malvasia delle Lipari, Minnella (white berry).

Traditional vines are:

🍷 Sangiovese for the black berry;
🥂 Ansonica, Zibibbo, Grecanico, Trebbiano for the white berry.

International vines

Among the international vines widespread in Sicily we find:

🍷 Syrah , Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for the black berry;
🥂 Chardonnay and Viogner regarding white grapes.

Which Sicilian wines to buy? DOCG, DOC and IGT recommended by our sommeliers

Sicily boasts a wide variety of high quality wines, which may or may not fall within the most important denominations.

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG is an elegant red produced in the province of Ragusa, obtained mainly from the Nero d'Avola and Frappato vines. It is characterized by a fruity aroma and a pleasant acidity.

Etna DOC is a denomination that covers the vineyards that grow on the slopes of the majestic Etna volcano. Here red and white wines of great character are produced, using native vines such as Nerello Mascalese and Carricante.

For those who love fortified wines, Marsala DOC is very renowned, produced in the Marsala area, in western Sicily. It is a fortified wine obtained mainly from the Grillo grape variety.

Sicilia IGT should not be underestimated, which is the widest denomination for Sicilian wines within which it is not always easy to orient yourself. It includes a wide range of grape varieties and wine styles, from fresh white wines to intense reds
and excellent desserts.

Also of great interest is Salina IGT , an indication that covers the island of Salina, in the archipelago of the Aeolian Islands. High quality wines are produced here, both white and red, using native vines such as Malvasia delle Lipari and Nero d'Avola.

1

DOCG

23

DOC

7

IGT

The numbers of Sicilian wine

Sicily is in first place in Italy for hectares of vines: 119,000 (ISTAT 2021 data).

Sicily is the main region for total organic vineyard area, with 31,000 hectares, 24% of the national total.

It produced 6.2 million hectoliters in 2021, up 6% on the previous year (ISTAT 2021 data).

Sicilian wine production is distributed in this way: 29% denomination wines (DOC and DOCG), 52% IGT; the remainder is generic wine.

5 fine and exclusive Sicilian red wines

Nerello Cappuccio

Terre Siciliane IGT

Grapes:

For the name of the grape variety to appear on the label, it must contribute at least 85%. Grapes from berry vines of the same color, suitable for cultivation in the region, can contribute, alone or together, up to a maximum of 15%.

Refinement:

Discretionary. In winemaking, only practices aimed at giving the wines their particular characteristics are allowed

Example in photo:

Nerello Cappuccio | Custodians of the Etna Vineyards
Indicative bottle price: €28-30

Sicily DOC

Grapes:

Nero d'Avola, Frappato, Nerello mascalese and Perricone, alone or jointly, for at least 50%; other black grape varieties, suitable for cultivation in the Sicily region, may contribute

Refinement:

Vinification and aging carried out within the entire administrative territory of the Sicily Region. The Riserva version ages for at least 2 years

Example in photo:

Nero d'Avola | Disisa fiefdom
Indicative bottle price: €10.50

Terre Siciliane IGT

Grapes:

For the name of the grape variety to appear on the label, it must contribute at least 85%. Grapes from berry vines of the same color, suitable for cultivation in the region, can contribute, alone or together, up to a maximum of 15%.

Refinement:

Discretionary. In winemaking, only practices aimed at giving the wines their particular characteristics are allowed

Example in photo:

Perricone No Trix | Barbera cellars
Indicative bottle price: €16

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

Grapes:

Grapes with the following proportion: from 50% to 70% of Nero d'Avola and from 30% to 50% of Frappato

Refinement:

Discretionary. Released for consumption no earlier than June 1st of the year following the harvest.

Example in photo:

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG | Minor curve
Indicative bottle price: €13-14

Terre Siciliane IGT

Grapes:

For the name of the grape variety to appear on the label, it must contribute at least 85%. Grapes from berry vines of the same color, suitable for cultivation in the region, up to a maximum of 15% can contribute, alone or together.

Refinement:

Discretionary. In winemaking, only practices aimed at giving the wines their particular characteristics are allowed

Example in photo:

Terre Siciliane IGT Nero D'Avola Ruversa | Marilina
Indicative bottle price: €20

5 fine and exclusive Sicilian white and rosé wines

Etna DOC Sparkling Wine

Grapes:

In the sparkling version, Nerello Mascalese minimum 60%. A maximum of 40% of other vines suitable for cultivation in the Sicily Region can contribute to the production

Refinement:

In the sparkling version, natural refermentation in the bottle with permanence on the yeasts for at least 18 months

Example in photo:

Etna DOC Rosè Brut | Murgo
Indicative bottle price: €24

Sicily DOC

Grapes:

In the white version: Insolia, Catarratto, Grillo, Grecanico, alone or together, for at least 50%; other white grape varieties, suitable for cultivation in the Sicily region, may contribute

Refinement:

Not unique and at the discretion of the manufacturer

Example in photo:

Sicily DOC Grillo | Disisa winery
Indicative bottle price: €12

Zibibbo

Grapes:

Zibibbo, also known as Moscato di Alessandria

Refinement:

Not unique and at the discretion of the manufacturer

Example in photo:

Ammano | Barbera cellars
Indicative bottle price: €27

Salina IGT

Grapes:

Grapes coming from vineyards composed, within the company, of one or more vines suitable for cultivation in the territory of the Sicilian Region. To indicate a grape variety on the label it must exceed 85%

Refinement:

Not unique and at the discretion of the manufacturer

Example in photo:

Salina IGT Salina Bianco Tenuta Valdichiesa | As a friend
Indicative bottle price: €12-13

Terre Siciliane IGT

Grapes:

Grapes coming from vineyards composed, within the company, of one or more vines suitable for cultivation in the Sicily region. To indicate the grape variety on the label, the grapes must be at least 85%

Refinement:

Not unique and at the discretion of the manufacturer

Example in photo:

IGT Terre Siciliane White Lapilli Murgo
Indicative bottle price: €11

Compose your box of Sicilian wines with the advice of our Sommeliers

Do you also want to discover the best bottles of Sicily?

Get advice from our Sommeliers to explore the wine treasures of Sicily in a selection designed based on your needs and tastes.

Our sommeliers, passionate and connoisseurs of the wine treasures of Sicily, will be at your disposal to guide you among the most prized and representative wines of the island. The box will be an authentic sensorial adventure, in which to explore the aromas, flavors and story behind every sip.

Whether you are an expert in the sector or a wine enthusiast looking for new experiences, our service will offer you a tailor-made selection, adapted to your desires. From full-bodied and intense red wines to fresh aromatic whites, from sweet pearls to surprising dessert wines, you will have the opportunity to create your own collection of Sicilian wines.

In addition to the quality and authenticity of niche wines, we offer a flexible service and deliver conveniently to your home.

Choose our personalized wine experience and let yourself be guided by our sommeliers towards the discovery of the most exclusive Sicilian wines. Trust our passion for wine and enjoy a unique journey into the heart of the Sicilian wine tradition.

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FAQ on Sicilian Fine Wines