Sicily Wine

Winemaker Description

Nero d’Avola gives this wine a red passion color, hints of ripe fruit and an intense and harmonious taste. Immediate and direct but not trivial, it differs in the altitude at which its grapes are grown, which allows for a fresher wine, with delicate tannins and easy to drink style.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | Made from organically grown grapes and vegan friendly, this dark, juicy, easy drinking Nero d’Avola is uncomplicated, packed with flavor, and irresistibly delicious. Plump and round in the mouth with blackberry, plum and raspberry fruit at its core with silky tannins and a velvety rich texture. An affordable indulgence for any meal, this is an ideal partner to pasta in tomato sauce and hearty pizza.

Winemaker Description

Deep purple red color. The nose reveals intense fruity notes of blackberry and blueberry compote, together with smoky and spicy notes. On the palate it is extraordinarily round and complete, with a natural and effortless balance of tannin and acidity, structure and length.

Purato’s environmental commitment extends into the winery. Purato uses eco-friendly packaging, made from recycled paper, pure vegetable ink on the labels and 85% recycled glass for the bottle.

Our Professional Review

Debra of 67Wine.com | Cantine Colosi's Grillo is certified vegan and shows fresh floral aromas , stone fruits and  herbs.  This Southern Italian white is bright, with lively acidity, orange zest, grapefruit, white peaches and savoriness on the palate.  

Wonderfully balanced offering a generous crisp, refreshing finish. Pair with lemon pasta and cream sauce,  chicken,  seafood and goat cheese.  Debra, Italy White Wine Buyer.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Winemaker Description 

A perennial favorite from Southern Sicily, the Purato rosato is dry, bright, energetic and versatile. While it is delicious on its own, you really should try it with your next plate of charcuterie or alongside toasted bread with fresh ricotta, rosemary and olive oil. It just so also happens to be both Organic and Vegan!

Purato Rosé is a Sicilian wine made with the Nero d’Avola grape, and the winery is exceptionally environmentally friendly. This wine is not only organically farmed, but its production is also carbon-neutral and vegan-friendly, and it is packaged exclusively in recycled and recyclable materials. On the nose, it is surprisingly complex for an everyday rosé: notes of fruit, wet sand, sea breeze, but also orange honey and some spices. It’s fresh, simple and pleasant.

Our Professional Review

Debra of 67Wine.com | A thrill seeking wine from the volcanic region in Souther Italy, Mt. Etna, Benanti showcases this 100% Carricante at it's best.  Complexity on the nose with aromas and flavors of grapefruit, saline, fresh acidity with lots of minerality. A pure varietal expression,  this wine is full of life, vibrant, energetic and a lingering finish. 
Pair with ricotta cheese drizzled with orange and/or lemon rind, grilled swordfish, tuna, cheeses, and lemon pasta dishes.

Winemaker Description

Cusumano Nero d'Avola is a deep ruby red, with violet reflections. Fresh aromas of red and black berries. Fruit-forward with firm tannins and plummy spice flavors on the palate. Winemaker Description. 

Critic Notes

James Suckling writes:  A juicy red showing red plums, tobacco, oranges and some tar on the nose. Touch of sweet spices. It’s medium-bodied, soft and ripe, with lively acidity to balance. Nerello cappucio and nerello mascalese. Drink now.  - James Suckling 90

Our Notes

"One of my favorite great value reds! Velvety textured with delicious flavors of blackberry, plum and strawberry with savory spice and aromatic herbs. Medium to full bodied with supple tannins that provide lift and structure.  Great for pizza, pasta and any midweek excursion."
Bart Hopkins

Winery Notes

Intense, dark ruby red. On the nose, notes of black fruit, strawberries, flowers and herbs. Dry and full-bodied on the palate.

Winemaker Description

From the Regaleali Estate, the Tasca winery, focusing on Nero d'Avola grapes (black grape variety also called 'Calabrese' not because it comes from Calabria, but as it derives from the ancient Calabrese family originating in the area of ​​Modica - Avola), produces this Ruby red wine, which has an exceptional aroma that brings to mind harmonious fruity notes well blended with typical Mediterranean spices. On the palate, an intense flavor of ripe fruit comes along with a pleasantly tannic background.

Winemaker Description

Benanti Etna Rosso is pale ruby red in color. The bouquet is ethereal and intense, with spicy red fruit aromas. Well balanced and medium-bodied, with a mineral-rich complexity, pleasant acidity and a saline freshness on the long and lively finish.

A versatile wine that can be paired with red meats and cheeses but also with fish or white meats. Very suitable for by-the-glass consumption.

Our Professional Review

Debra of 67Wine.com | This Sicilian white is light, clean , and offers stone fruit flavors of peach,  citrus and a subtle tropical fruit note.  This wine is made with organic grapes and it is also vegan. Purely enjoyable, harmonious, light bodied with freshness making it a perfect wine for every day drinking.

Enjoy with cheese from 67Gourmet, light seafood dishes, salads or as an aperitif.

Winemaker Description 

Straw yellow color. The bouquet on the nose shows aromas of citrus, tropical fruits and floral notes. On the palate it is fresh and enjoyable; balanced for everyday drinking.

This wine is made with certified organic grapes. No artificial fertilizers or pesticides are used in the vineyards. Purato’s environmental commitment extends into the winery. Purato uses eco-friendly packaging, made from recycled paper, pure vegetable ink on the labels and 85% recycled glass for the bottle.

\Winemaker Description

“Rina Russa” means “red sand” in Sicilian dialect. Rina Russa genuinely has its own unique style, as the Frappato grapes come from ancient clones developed on our own estate. It has a very beautiful light cherry color, with a fresh and vibrant bouquet, reminiscent of wild strawberries and a beautifully balanced palate, with silky smooth fruit, a real freshness running through it and a surprisingly long finish. 

Experts Review - Vintage 2023 

James Suckling - 90 Points "A very pretty, red-fruited wine that offers bitter cherries, peach skin, red flowers and a hint of pink peppercorns on the nose. Sleek and mellow on the palate, with a medium body and supple tannins. Very pleasant and seductive. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Sustainable. Drink now."

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 91 Points | A delicious, round and silky white with aromas of fresh lemons, white peaches and warm spices on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Supple, with a mineral undertone at the center and a succulent finish.

Winemaker Description 

Insolia grapes are manually selected in the Nordic microclimate of Ficuzza, Cusumano's largest vineyard, located in Northern Sicily. Light straw color with soft aromas of freshly-picked flowers and herbs. This Insolia opens the palate with refreshing flavors of apples and pears. Hints of citrus zest lingers throughout for a harmonious balance.

Pairs with lighter dishes such as salads or seafood.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer: For centuries, Sicily has been a crossroad of cultures, languages, and religions. With a multitude of cultural exchange, many things came from distant places, grape varieties included. The Syrah grape had its origins in Persia and Mesopotamia and migrated across Europe finding its way to Sicily. The hot sunny climate is a perfect home for this intrepid grape variety and is conducive to natural organic farming.

The 2021 Tenuta Rapitala Nadir Syrah is rich and well endowed with layers of black fruits and earthy spice. Full bodied and robustly structured with savory complexity and a chewy texture. Abundant and robust in the mouth, with supple tannins providing good grip on the finish, this is a perfect wine for foods of substance, such as pizza, pasta, grilled or roasted meats and hearty vegetable dishes.

James Suckling (94 Points) writes:  A juicy and fresh syrah with blackberry, spice, chocolate and dried meat aromas and flavors. Full and layered with plenty of fruit and a fresh finish. Shows excellent focus and polish. From organically grown grapes. Can age nicely. Drink or hold.  

Winery Description 

Intense ruby-red color with damask-violet tints. Generous bouquet with touches of ripe fruit and the typical spices of this grape variety, with attractive hints of vanilla. The flavor is full and delicate, with soft and elegant tannins. A balanced marriage between the depth of this product and the uniqueness of this exceptional terroir.

Winemaker Notes

Beautiful minerality shining through it, alongside touches of honeymelon and stone fruit. 

Very experienced natural wine drinkers may experience a small note of sulphur on the finish, but it does not distract from the uniqueness of this special wine.

Growing up in Agrigento on Sicily’s southern coast, Filippo Mangione had winemaking in his blood. For generations his family tended vines and made wine in their palmento until his grandfather passed away in the sixties. The vineyards and building were sold off; leaving his family without an estate.

After university, he dove headfirst into the world of wine: working as a waiter, sommelier, journalist, and sales/export in both the US and the UK. The more he worked selling other peoples’ wines, the more he felt the pull to revive his family’s legacy and re-establish an estate of his own. In 2011, after months of visiting and walking the slopes of Etna, Filippo happened to meet the old owner of a nearly abandoned vineyard in Calderara Sottana planted in the early 1900s behind a grove of chesnut trees. Too old to work the vineyards any longer, he was thrilled that Filippo wanted to continue his work, telling him “Take it. Don’t let this vineyard die.” Filippo spent his life savings to buy that vineyard and Ayunta was born.

The vineyards of Ayunta, now several parcels spread throughout the top terroirs (namely the contrada of Calderara Sottana) around Randazzo on northern Etna, total 2.8 ha. The vineyards are populated mainly by very old vines. Every vine is different which is why Filippo does all his farming either by hand or small machine. He doesn’t use any chemicals in his vineyards, preferring to allow the natural vitality of
the soil shine through in the wines.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 90 Points| An intense, fruity wine with ripe aromas of black cherries, blackberries and a savory touch. Light- to medium-bodied, it shows youthful style on the palate, with fruit, chalky tannins and a refreshing finish.

Winemaker's Description

With bright ruby red color with violet reflections, Sherazade 2023 presents a fruity bouquet with hints of raspberry and cherry, flanked by delicate spicy and balsamic notes. On the palate the fruity notes return smoothly, a red of great softness and excellent freshness. The caressing tannin completes this fragrant and pleasant wine.

A great match with fish soup, pizza or classic tomato spaghetti.

Expert Review 

90 Points Wine Spectator | Iodine, dried fig and roasted almond notes leap from the glass in this finely balanced and creamy Marsala, in a dry style. Hints of singed orange peel and ground clove linger on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 93 Points | Vivid and delicious, this has plenty of sliced apples and pears, white flowers and hints of salt and minerals. Medium- to full-bodied, it has balanced fruit, touches of flint and a pretty finish. Drink now. 

Kerin O'Keefe 91 Points |  A blend of 85% Carricante and 15% Catarratto planted on Etna’s northern slopes, this has aromas of Spanish broom, citrus and stone fruit. Linear, savory and full of energy, the palate features yellow apple, white peach, lemon zest and saline mineral alongside bright acidity.

Winemaker Description 

We only grow indigenous grapes: Nerello Mascalese, Carricante and Catarratto with a great attention to sustainability. Cultivation of vineyards is certified organic, with careful selections and search for full maturity, limiting the yields in the vineyard to a minimum. The approach in the winery is rigorous, in search of precision and finesse.Vinification and aging take place in concrete tanks, in tini and large barrels produced with very long seasoned wood.

All the work is aimed at favoring the personality of the vines, keeping intact the differences and nuances between one vintage and the other, in the belief that only by satisfying and respecting the natural expression of a great territory can wines have the potential to truly evoke emotion.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com writes | This beautiful organically grown Nero d’Avola has a bright ruby color with intense red and black fruit aromas elegantly frames with a kiss of vanilla oak. Medium to full bodied, pleasantly smooth and harmonious with rich fruit and spicy tannins that linger delectably. Perfect with meat dishes, this versatile red can easily accompany all types of Mediterranean inspired dishes.

Winemaker Description

Di Giovanna Camurria Orange is a bright orange wine. An expressive bouquet of wild flowers, almonds, marzipan and orange peel. Medium in body, savory with a beautiful acid core. Layers of citrus, stone fruits and sweet spice envelope.

Winemaker Description 

The quality and character of Florio embodied by our first Marsala wine. A Superiore aged in oak barrels for at least 24 months under the centuries-old vaulted ceilings of the Florio Wine Cellars, the perfect accompaniment for any occasion. 

Located in the southeast of Sicily in the province of Ragusa, Vito Catania of Gulfi Cantina is a leader of organic farming, in a very unforgiving region. Here, clay-limestone soils and 420 meters of elevation yield mind-bendingly tasty reds, made from Nero d'Avola and Frappato.

Following more natural cellar practices, and aged for one year in barrel, the nose is a ruse of sour cherry, plum, and grilled herbs. Super silky and full of Mediterranean gusto on the palate,

Winemaker Description 

Eduardo organically farms parcels totalling 3.5 hectares on the north face or versante nord of Mt. Etna. Those parcels are scattered amongst 6 different contrade or districts (Pietramarina, Allegracore, Daini, Friera, Zucconero and Marchesa). The soils are sandy volcanic ash and the elevation ranges from 550 to 950 meters. Vines average over 50 years old, the bunches are hand-harvested, destemmed, co-fermented spontaneously with native yeasts and without sulfur in concrete tank without temperature control. Maceration lasts for 2 days.  

Winemaker Description 

Nero d'Avola is a deep ruby red, with violet reflections. Fresh aromas of red and black berries. Fruit-forward with firm tannins and plummy spice flavors on the palate. 

Made from organically grown grapes.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Vinous 92 Points | A whiff of sweet spice and dusty rose gives way to crushed cherries and cloves as the 2021 Etna Rosso Sul Vulcano blossoms in the glass. This displays textures of pure silk, sweeping across the palate with ripe red fruits guided by vibrant acidity as inner florals cascade throughout. Fine tannins and primary concentration saturate toward the close as the 2021 finishes long. Licorice traces fade through the close. This is a fantastic offering, especially at the price point.

James Suckling 91 Points | A soft and open red with plum and spice character as well as floral undertones. Some fresh herbs too. Medium body. Lightly chewy.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Appealing for its ripe core of black cherry and plum fruit, offering pretty accents of violet, anise and dried herbs. This red is light on its feet, with taut tannins trimming the minerally finish. Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. Drink now. 2,160 cases made, 450 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

With a light ruby ??red colour, Sul Vulcano has a bouquet that stands out for its notes of Asian spices (cardamom and star anise), red fruit (strawberry and black cherry) accompanied by pleasant and fresh balsamic hints. On the palate it is pleasantly juicy, with silky tannins and an elegant finish.

Perfect with appetizers and Mediterranean dishes based on aubergines or mushrooms, ideal with roast or stewed meats. It is a versatile wine that can pair with roast fish as well as accompany dishes from different gastronomic traditions, from North American cuisine (such as chicken wings or hamburgers) to Asian cuisine as long as it is not too spicy. It can also go very well with fusion cuisine such as Tex-Mex, with meat and legume-based dishes.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

James Suckling 94 Points | Spice and dried seaweed with ash and earth on the nose, as well as red fruit. Full-bodied with medium, round tannins and a savory finish. Dusty at the end. Delicious now, but will age nicely. Drink or hold.

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | A graceful, medium-bodied red, with bright acidity and fine, creamy tannins, which buoy a pleasing range of baked strawberry, star anise, graphite and red licorice notes. A subtle overtone of herbs and mineral pushes through and lingers on the lightly chewy finish. Drink now through 2032. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

James Suckling 94 Points | Amazing concentration of clean red fruit and soil here, together with tangy wild herbs and something citrus. You can almost smell the volcano! Medium-to full-bodied with a dense core of fruit and quite challenging tannins for now. Give it a year to even out, but this is the muscular cousin of the Russo family. Try from 2023. 

Vinous 92+ Points | The 2019 Etna Rosso Feudo is dark and dusty in the glass, with an alluring blend of dried roses, crushed rocks and red plums. This is round and juicy, without a hard edge in sight, showing gorgeous ripe raspberry and cherry excited by a twang of sour citrus. It finishes lightly structured yet full of tension, leaving a cheek puckering sensation and the mouth watering for more. Give this zesty Etna Rosso some time to open aromatically in the glass.

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Danielle Callegari of the WIne Enthusiast writes 88 Points | Hot chili peppers burst off the nose of this Nero d'Avola, lifted by wood smoke, macerated blackberries and bitter chocolate. Spiciness carries over to the palate, with notes of black pepper and tomato-pepper jam, but also more berries and some tobacco leaf. Tannins are firm but polished.  

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Eric Guido of Vinous writes 92 Points | A gorgeous blend of crushed violets, lavender, wild strawberries and crushed stone wafts up as the 2022 Nerello Cappuccio blossoms in the glass. It opens with a lovely inner sweetness and crisp wild berry fruits. Brilliant acidity adds lift and hints of sour citrus pepper the palate. The 2022 tapers off wickedly fresh with a gentle tug of fine tannins, taking on a slightly crunchy sensation as of licorice tones fade under blue- and purple-toned inner florals. The Nerello Cappuccio from Benanti is always a fun wine; its one of the only varietal expressions one can even find on the market.

Winemaker Description 

Fairly bright ruby red with very light tints of purple. Scent is spicy, herbaceous, smoky, and mildly fruity.

Winemaking in the Benanti family can be traced back to the late 1800s in Viagrande. This deep-rooted passion for wine is what led Giuseppe Benanti to establish the namesake winery in 1988.

Vineyard in Contrada Cavaliere, on the South-western slope of Mount Etna, within the municipality of Santa Maria di Licodia (CT). This area is known for its high elevation (900 m a.s.l. / 2,950 ft a.s.l.), low rainfall rate and abundant luminosity.

2022 was the warmest year in the last 180 years, starting with regular and abundant winter rainfall. The vineyards’ vegetative growth was slightly early but healthy, leading to ideal flowering and fruit setting. Between May and June, rapid vegetation growth in Benanti’s five contradas required significant pruning. Despite high temperatures and a lack of rain, the grapes showed no water stress until late August rainfalls. The grapes ripened in excellent health with minimal interventions. The complete ripening process saw notable sugar increases and good acidity levels, perfect for producing balanced wines. Harvests at Calderara Sottana started on October 3rd, and concluded with Nerello Mascalese at Contrada Cavaliere on October 17th.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com writes | Made from 50 year old organic and Biodynamically grown Nero d’Avola vines, the 2020 Contrada is a beautifully crafted, totally natural Sicilian red wine. The bouquet is deep and rich with earthy plum and dark berry and licorice aromas that mingle playfully with notes of exotic spices. In the mouth the flavors are seductive and elegant with purity, freshness and detailed complexity. An exceptionally unique expression of Nero d’Avola.
Bart Hopkins

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Eric Guido of Vinous 92 Points | The 2021 Cerasuolo di Vittoria entices with a dusty bouquet of citrus-laced blackberries, dried violets and sweet smoke. This is pure and lifted in style, communicating undeniable elegance with a silken wave of ripe wild berry fruit that swirls throughout. It finishes classically dry yet only gently tannic, leaving hints of black raspberry and spice to linger. The 2021 is simply stunning today and has the balance to evolve beautifully through medium-term cellaring.

Winemaker Description 

A versatile and ductile Marsala Superiore Secco, suitable for everyday occasions.

Amber to light brown, with hints of raisins and vanilla; dry, full, harmonic and fervent. The Marsala of choice for fish, poultry and meat preparation. An elegant aperitif to serve with cheese.

Our Professional Review

Arianna Occhipinti is a driving force in the Sicilian natural wine movement. She works only with organic growers and is a minimalist in the cellar. Her wines always showcase an essence of purity and a certain wildness that pleasantly reminds us that wine is a product of nature. Her 2022 Siccagno is 100% Nero d’Avola that doesn’t see any new oak to preserve the fruit and freshness. Beautiful plum and dark raspberry fruit aromas are accented with floral nuances. Medium bodied, juicy and elegant in the mouth with well balanced, food friendly acidity that makes it perfect to pair with pizza and pasta with red sauce.

Winemaker Description

Hugonis with its powerful and austere style is the most prized product of Tenuta Rapitalà, the legacy wine. The seal of Hugonis Bernardi – a knight in armor with two leopards – which appears on the label, is the coat-of-arms of the family of Hugues Bernard de la Gatinais and his son, Laurent.

100% estate-grown fruit is sourced from Nero d’Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon plots situated between 1,000 and 1,300 feet above sea level on rich, clay soils. Guyot-trained vines have limited yields of 28 quintals per acre.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2013 

92 Points Wine Advocate | The top shelf wine released by Tenuta Rapital is the 2013 Hugonis. The wine represents a bold blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Nero d'Avola from the southwest corner of Sicily. This wine is teaming with rich fruit flavors and backing spice. Cola, balsam herb and licorice add to the overall complexity. Hugonis closes with a sweet cherry note and offers thick textural richness. (2013).

90 Points Wine Spectator | Rich notes of black currant, bay leaf and anise are set in an elegant, medium- to full-bodied frame that is well-knit, with supple tannins. Creamy, showing hints of smoke and spicy mineral on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Nero d'Avola. Drink now through 2023. (2013). 

Winemaker Description 

With a bright amber color, the wine shows intense, persistent oak hints before dry, fine and delicate flavors on the palate.