📍 Sicily

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and one of the most varied wine regions in Italy. It is hot and sunny, but the altitude of Mount Etna's slopes and sea winds soften the climate.

The main red grapes are Nero d'Avola, Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio; the whites are Catarratto (the most planted), Grillo, Inzolia, Carricante and Zibibbo. The island makes wines of all styles: fresh whites, light reds, sweet passito and fortified wines.

Sicily includes Etna (volcanic soils, wines from Nerello Mascalese), Marsala in the west (fortified wine known since the 18th century), Vittoria, Pantelleria, the Aeolian (Lipari) Islands, and smaller zones such as Noto, Menfi, Alcamo and Sciacca. Vittoria gives Cerasuolo di Vittoria, the only Sicilian DOCG.

All these zones share the general appellation Sicilia DOC. The island is part of Italian winemaking, and its volcanoes, sea and hot sun give the wine a distinct character. Sicilian wines go well with fish, pasta with aubergine and sweet pastries with citrus and almonds. The name Sicily on a label shows that the grapes grew in this very area, which makes it easy to look for similar wines.