List of DOC wines in Sicily
In Sicily there are 23 DOC wine regions . They only make up five percent of the wine grown on the island of Sicily, but with their striving for quality, they show the potential of this traditional wine-growing region. DOC stands for Denominazione di origine controllata and describes the quality requirements of these wines, such as their origin. If the bottled wine does not only come from a DOC area, it is sold under the DOC name Sicilia .
The DOC regions in Sicily are continuously being expanded. In October 2012, winegrowers had applied for recognition of the protected origin for a total of 40,000 hectares. They may also be sold with the indication Sicilia in order to make the origin clearer to the consumer.
Alcamo
also Bianco d'Alcamo, also as sparkling wine (Alcamo Spumante)
The white wine produced here is grown in the provinces of Palermo and Trapani and around the city of Alcamo, which gives the region its name . The main grape variety is the red Nero d'Avola . Catarratto or Catarratto bianco lucido is predominant among the white wines . The varieties Grecanico , Ansonica , Grillo and Chardonnay are expanded or coveted in significantly smaller quantities . The white wines are considered simple and full-bodied.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
The only DOCG- classified wine in Sicily: Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Contea di Sclafani
There are red, rosé and white wines in the cultivation. The DOC recognition for this area, which is located in a large area in the middle of the island, took place in 1996. This recognition was linked to the variety of single-origin wines from both local and international grape varieties. The main vines, each with more than fifty percent share, are Nero d'Avola for the red, Catarratto, Insolia and Grecanico for the white varieties.
Contessa Entellina
Growing of red and white wine in the municipality of Contessa Entellina in the province of Palermo. Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are about half in the yield as well as Ansonica. Catarratto, Grecanico, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Merlot , Pinot nero are also permitted for cultivation . The main producer is Donnafugata, who with its 260 hectares of cultivation area also produces its wines in other regions.
Delia Nivolelli
This region, located south-east of Marsala , mainly produces white wines (65% of which are Grecanico, Insolia and Grillo), some of which are single-origin, but also red wines, especially Nero d'Avola, Pignatello , Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Sangiovese .
Eloro
Located on the southern tip of Sicily in the provinces of Ragusa and Syracuse , only red and rosé wines are produced here. 90% of the cultivation is Nero d'Avola, Frappato and Pignatello. A distinction is made between two sub-areas south of Ragusa: Pachino (with 80% Nero d'Avola) and Pignatello (with 80% Pignatello).
Erice
In the Etna area, immediately east of Trapani on and around the mountain of the same name , both red and white wine are grown. The cultivation of Nero d'Avola and Catarratto is predominant. 40 percent also other varieties; Passito and Spumante are also being expanded .
Etna
This DOC area in the province of Catania , which reaches up to 1,100 meters on the slopes of Mount Etna , has existed since 1968. All three wine colors are represented here. The cultivation of the bush vines is particularly striking here. The red wines are comparable in style to those from Bordeaux , the white wines are youthful, fresh and tasty.
Faro
45 to 60 percent of this area in the municipality of Messina is used for growing Nerello Mascalese , Nerello Cappuccio (15%) and Nocera (5 to 10 percent). A heavy, complex red wine is produced in small quantities and is enjoying increasing demand.
Malvasia delle Lipari
This area, limited to the Aeolian Islands , belongs to the province of Messina . The cultivation takes place mainly on the island of Lipari . 95 percent of the production is obtained from the white grape variety of the same name Malvasía di Lipari , 5 percent from Corinto nero . The white wines are offered as pasito or liquoroso , i.e. as dessert wine .
Mamertino di Milazzo
also Mamertino.
In the area south of Messina is the Mamertino DOC cultivation area, to which 30 municipalities belong. The main grape varieties are Nero d'Avola or Calabrese d'Avola, and Nocera for the red wines, Grillo, Ansonica or Inzolia and Catarratto for the white wines. Grillo-Inzolia or Inzolia-Grillo from these two varieties are each blended to at least 20%. Two years of barrel aging make the red wines into riservas .
Marsala
This wine , originally only grown around Marsala , experienced a significant increase in size due to its popularity in the beginning and middle of the 20th century. Even after the DOC classification in 1969, the growing area was enlarged again. Today cultivation is permitted in the provinces of Trapani, Palermo and Agrigento . The fortified wines known around the world are produced with the quality labels oro and ambra (grape varieties: Catarratto, Grillo and / or Inzolia), as well as rubino (Perricone, Calabrese, Nero Mascalese ). The alcohol content and storage time are determined by the additional designations fine (17%), superiore (18% and two years storage) and vergine (18% and five years storage).
Menfi
Wines from Menfi around the town of Menfi come from the municipality of Menfi itself, Sambuca di Sicilia and Sciacca in the province of Agrigento , and from Castelvetrano in the province of Trapani. The most important grape varieties that are blended in any combination, but with a minimum of 70 percent, are Nero d'Avola, Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah or Inzolia, Catarratto, Grecanico and Chardonnay (75% minimum for blending). A specialty here is the Vendemmia Tardiva , a kind of late harvest that is obtained from the partially dried grapes of Chardonnay and / or Catarratto.
Two sub-regions share this DOC: Feudi dei Fiori with mainly white grapes (Chardonnay, Inzolia and Ansonica) and Bonera with mainly red grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d'Avola, Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah). In both sub-regions, wines with at least 12.5% alk. and two years of storage call Riserva.
Monreale
The wines of this DOC come from the municipalities of Camporeale , Corleone , Roccamena , the eponymous Monreale , San Cipirello , San Giuseppe Jato , Piana degli Albanesi and Santa Cristina Gela in the province of Palermo.
Single-variety wines must contain at least 85 percent of this grape variety. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nero d'Avola or Calabrese, Perricone, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese and Syrah are permitted for red wines and Ansonica or Inzolia, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Grillo, Pinot Bianco for white wines. The Rosato is produced in any proportion from Nerello Mascalese, Perricone and Sangiovese, the minimum proportion of which must be 70 percent, as well as other permitted red varieties. Novello is also offered for red wines and a Vendemmia Tardiva for white wines.
Noto
actually Moscato di Noto
In the province of Syracuse in the municipalities of Noto, Rosolini, Pachino and Avola, the Moscato bianco grape variety is mainly grown, which makes this highly valued and rare Moscato there. Viticulture was introduced here by the Greeks over two and a half thousand years ago and is now considered a prime example of this Liquoroso wine style. Even wines are without fuel Tung and Spumante offered.
Pantelleria
This island, which is closer to Tunisia than Sicily and has almost 8,000 inhabitants and belongs to the province of Trapani, is home to the Zibibbo grape variety , which is processed into nutmeg wines here. Zibibbo is related to muscatel and is transformed into naturale , sparkling wine and passito on the island . The production volume of Passito has doubled since 2000 because of its popularity in recent years.
Riesi
The Riesi DOC is approved in the municipalities of Butera , Riesi and Mazzarino in the province of Caltanissetta . Monovarietal Ansonica or Chardonnay may contain up to 15 percent other white grape varieties, while sweet Vendemmia Tardiva contains grapes that have dried on the vine, which are processed into at least 18 percent dessert wine. Calabrese and / or Cabernet Sauvignon are also used for red and rosé wines, which, with 80 percent of one grape variety, are considered single-origin. 85 percent purity of the variety can be marked with superior. Three-year storage entitles it to be labeled as Riserva.
Salaparuta
The 1500 hectare DOC Salaparuta has existed in the homonymous municipality of Salaparuta south of Alcamo in the province of Trapani since 2006. Both red and white wines are grown, which are considered monovarietal if they contain at least 85 percent of one grape variety. Catarratto, Nero d'Avola and Chardonnay are approved for Vino-Varietale cultivation, each with a minimum of 85 percent. If this high purity is not achieved, they are declared as Biano or Rosso or Rosso riserva . Also permitted are: Inzolia, Grillo, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Nero d'Avola, Merlot and Syrah can also be used as Riserva . Also Novello produced.
Sambuca di Sicilia
Wines with the indication of origin Sambuca di Sicilia come from the eponymous municipality Sambuca di Sicilia in the province of Agrigento. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are cultivated, which must contain at least 85% of the respective variety. For wines with the designation Rosso and for Rosato 75% of one variety is sufficient. Nerello Mascalese, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon are permitted for the varietal expansion, as well as Merlot and Syrah for red wines and Ansonica, Catarratto Bianco Lucido and / or Chardonnay. Pure white wines contain at least 75% of this grape variety, otherwise they are called Bianco . Wines of the Sambuca di Sicilia passito variety are also produced .
Santa Margherita di Belice
In western Sicily in the provinces of Agrigento, Palermo and Trapani within nine municipalities around Santa Margherita di Belice , both red and white wines are cultivated. The reds are primarily Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Nero d'Avola, the white wines are Ansonica, Grecanico and Catarratto, all of which are also offered as single varieties (at least 85%).
Sciacca
This DOC region is located in the province of Agrigento. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nero d'Avola, Chardonnay, Grecanico and Inzolia, which must contain at least 85% of the respective variety, are permitted for single-variety wine. For Rosso and Rosato at least 70 percent can be contained in any mixture of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d'Avola and Sangiovese, for Bianco Catarratto Bianco Lucido, Chardonnay, Grecanico and Inzolia must be included. The Rayana sub-region is intended for white Riserva Rayana , which has an average annual yield of 10 hl.
Siracusa
actually Moscato di Siracusa
Production exclusively of white wines in the municipality of Syracuse in the province of the same name. Only permitted grape variety: Giallo Moscato (clone of Moscato bianco). The Muscatel vineyard above the city and the wine culture have fallen victim to the modernization of Sicily. Today this wine is only grown by the Azienda Agricola Pupillo on half a hectare of vineyards. Made from pure raisined grapes, it has an alcohol content of 16.5% vol.
Vittoria
The DOC Vittoria, approved in 2005, is located in the provinces of Ragusa , Caltanissetta and Catania, where mainly Nero d'Avola and the indigenous Frappato are grown. White wines are Ansonica and Inzolia. Novello is also offered.
Web links
- Map and list of wine-growing regions on wein-plus.eu
- Statistics of the umbrella organization of the Italian protection consortia Federdoc (Italian)
Individual evidence
- ↑ The great Johnson . Hallwag-Verlag 2009, ISBN 978-3-8338-1621-5 , p. 368
- ↑ Mamertino on wein.cc
- ↑ Riesi on wein.cc
- ↑ Wine Law of the DOC Salaparuta ( Memento of the original from March 8, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on stradedeivini.it (ital.)
- ↑ Wine Law of the DOC Sambuca di Sicilia ( Memento of the original from January 4, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on stradedeivini.it (ital.)
