I am not sure who is the origin of the expression “Sicily is like a whole continent in one small island”, but that was certainly what we thought when we were travelling there to explore the vineyards and the wineries some time ago. Apparently it is also what Sally Easton MW thinks. She has just published an article called “Sicily, a continent on one island”.
There are many different soil types, or terroirs, or Sicily, very different climates, many grape varieties. The one thing that is common to the whole of the island is of course the plentiful sun and the warm, or even hot weather in summer. But even the heat will vary a lot. It will be very different in the vineyards on the slopes of Etna, up to almost 1000 metres in altitude, and by the sea.
Sally draws a quick overview picture of the wine regions on the island, some of the wine producers and the grape varieties. It is a very good introduction for someone who is curious about the wines of Sicily and who want to learn more. Frappato, nerello mascalese, nerello cappuccino, nero d’avola etc. There are many exciting and unusual grape verities, making excellent wines, that most people are not so familiar with.
Some of the wine producers have already become quite well-known names internationally: Donnafugata, Tasca d’Almerita (Regaleali), Rapitalà, Planeta, Valle dell’Acate, Cos etc etc.
ut there are also many high quality producers that have not yet become much known outside of Italy, or even outside of Sicily.
Read all of Sally Easton MW’s article here ”Sicily, a continent on one island”.
BKWine will be organising a wine tour to Sicily this autumn where we will feature both some of the very best wine producers and the excellent food of Sicily. Contact us for more information.
