Sicily Travel Guide
Italy
Sicily Wine Guide
Although Sicily is better known for Nero d’Avola or Marsala wines, there are also a number of high-quality whites produced in Sicily, notably from the Catarratto grape variety, from which some full-bodied whites with lemon hints are produced.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Sicily might only have one designated Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) wine, but it is a wine well worth quaffing. Cerasuolo di Vittoria, from the Vittoria region on the south coast of the island, is a dry red that is produced using a blend of the famed Nero d’Avola grape (between 50% and 70%) along with the lighter grape variety of Frappato. The resultant ruby-red tipple is rich in berry flavours and, depending on the blend, it can range from fresh to tannin-rich.
Marsala
Sicily’s most famous wine, the fortified Marsala, is synonymous with the island. This DOC-designated wine can be dry or sweet and can be golden, amber or ruby in colour.
Marsala is most commonly used in cooking to create nutty, rich caramelized sauces, and it’s an amazing addition to the chef’s kitchen. However, Marsala makes a great drinking wine, usually as either an aperitif for drier wines, or a dessert wine for sweeter ones.
Sicily Gourmet Guide
Add in the distinctive and gastronomically diverse cuisine that has been influenced from some of the great cultures of Europe and beyond and any wine tour to Sicily will stay with you for ever.
Every good bottle of wine deserves great food to match and Sicily is blessed with gastronomic delights that have been inspired through the ages by French, Spanish, Greek and Arab dishes. In fact one of the earliest known cookbooks, written by Sicilian chef Mithaecus in the 5th century BC, gives an indication of how long this island has taken their food seriously.
The traditional starter of gatò di patate (cheese and potato pie) or the caponata are a good place to begin, while pasta dishes are plentiful, with Spaghetti ai ricci (sea urchin) and Pasta alla Norma (aubergine) being two local favourites.
Unsurprisingly, given the location, there is also a great deal of top quality seafood available, and couscous with fish stew, and pesce spada alla ghiotta (a swordfish treat with olives and tomatoes) are two of the must-try dishes, along with the wines of your choice of course!
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