Catarratto is a white grape variety common to Sicily. It generally produces easy drinking whites but can occasionally deliver premium wines. Officially it is called Catarratto Bianco Commune and is best suited for the production of Marsala due to its propensity to oxidise.
“Clean, expressive lemon and melon on the nose. Lightly creamy texture with lots of succulent citrus, mineral, zest and a modest finish of flowers, lemongrass and faint grapefruit.”
“Intriguing nose of apple, smoke and minerals, backed up by intense scents of lemon and mountain fauna. Fresh, lifted. Good concentration. Lots of citrus on the palate. Complexity. Attractive. Good depth and tension, with an elegantly tart finish.”
“Leans into the elegant, savory camp with its clean, light nose of orange blossoms, herbs, lemons, and a wet, earthy stoniness. Lighter bodied than its peers, the palate is fresh and saline with a kiss of minerality on the finish.”
“Floral notes of dried flowers, broom and geraniums. A little bit of evolution showing on the nose. Attractive. Moorish. Savoury nuances envelope apricot and mandarin. Nice structure. Very crisp, tart, fresh. Aperitif vibes. Crunchy yellow fruit on the finish.”
Terra Costantino is a ten hectare estate located on the southern slopes of Etna in the commune of Viagrande. Founded in 1978 it is now one of the leaders in sustainable winery management in Sicily. Father and son team Dino and Fabio Costantino produces white and red wines from the contrada of Blandano. Luca d’Attoma consults.
Firriato is one of Sicily’s largest producers with around three-hundred and eighty hectares under vine. The company specialises in local varieties such as Nero d’Avola, Perricone, Zibibbo, Grillo and Catarratto.
Donnafugata is one of the most visible Sicilian brands in both Italy and abroad. Owned by the Rallo family for the last five generations, Donnafugata is known for quality, fruit forward wines produced predominantly around the town of Marsala and on the island of Pantelleria, although in recent years vineyard holdings have expanded to include wines on Etna and in Vittoria.
The Spadafora wine company was founded in 1993 and is known for producing high quality organic wines in the rolling hills of north west Sicily. The Spadafora name is one of the region’s historic noble family names. Today the estate is overseen by Francesco Spadafora, his wife Claudia and daughter Enrica.
Based just north of Siracusa, Cantine Pupillo are known primarily for their Moscato di Siracusa wines. In recent years there has been a bigger trend towards dry wines however.