Riesling, Sicily

Riesling is a white grape variety originating from the Rhine Valley that crosses the eastern part of Germany affecting various wine regions. Riesling is undoubtedly considered the most important wine produced in Germany with almost 23,000 hectares of vineyards and is considered one of the grapes capable of offering delicate and prestigious wines, certainly among the most appreciated in the world. The spread of Riesling is however favored by the low temperatures which, also by virtue of the German latitudes, allow the plant to develop without problems. In the Moselle area, Riesling is widely spread, presenting wines of great organoleptic breadth and perfectly interpreting the possibilities offered by the German classification system. Beyond this area, it is found in important regions such as Rheingau, Nahe and Pfalz. Especially in the latter, Riesling manifests more softness and drinkability while not exhibiting the tension and finesse that usually distinguish wines from Moselle. It is also widely distributed in Austria, Hungary, Croatia, especially in Alsace offering products of enormous importance on the oenological level such as the Sélection de Grains Nobles which concerns grapes affected by botrytis and which develop high sugar concentrations. Italy has also known a good diffusion of Riesling compared to the areas of Trentino-Alto Adige, Oltrepò Pavese, Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The proximity to watercourses and the type of soil equally affect the quality of Riesling with phenomena of light refraction and overheating useful for ripening. With late maturation, Riesling shows a natural predisposition to the acid component, a significant characteristic also for the aging of wines produced with this variety. On the organoleptic level it is easily recognizable offering yellow pulp fruits and citrus scents of lemon peel, lime, orange, green apple, often accompanied by notes of hydrocarbons and subtle spicings finished with a marked minerality. The aromatic complexity is often linked to the ageing and to the presence of noble mold that manages to turn more frank and fresh aromas towards a more consistent spiciness, with tones of dried fruit, apricot, honey, cinnamon, white pepper. The possibility of vinifying it in consideration of the sugar content of the must, which does not cloud the acidity despite the progressive maturation, makes the German Riesling suitable for presenting itself to different types of harvests in which the bunches can gradually find a greater aromatic concentration in order to prepare different typologies for Prädikatswein : Kabinett Trocken or Halb-Trocken, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, Eiswein are the classifications in use today. Compared to the methods used for vinification, Riesling usually ferments and refines in steel even if there are producers who in the Moselle itself still use large barrels no longer suitable for transferring their aromatic components to wine.

Buy Riesling online

Among the good reasons to buy Riesling online there is undoubtedly the ease of consulting a large catalog that can range from the most classic European regions of Moselle, Alsace, Trentino-Alto Adige or allow you to discover wines from countries such as the New Zealand and Australia where the diffusion of Riesling continues to give surprising results. It is also an excellent way to recognize the complexity and aromatic nuances depending on very different climatic conditions and well assimilated by the plant. Riesling can thus exhibit more acid vein in some circumstances, while on other occasions it releases hints of more ripe pulp fruits and finished by pleasant spicy aftertaste. In this way, the shopping experience allows you to compare multiple labels and to be surprised by the transversality of a truly unique grape variety.

Is there a red Riesling wine?

The most common Riesling, the Renano one, is a white grape variety that cannot give red wines in color. However, there is a Roter Riesling or Red Riesling which has a reddish color of the berries and represents a genetic mutation of the Renano Riesling.

Is Riesling a sparkling wine?

Riesling is usually vinified as a still wine but in Oltrepò Pavese the culture of using Riesling Italico to create sparkling versions is widespread.

What are the best combinations for Riesling?

Although not well known in Italy for its expressiveness in combination with regional cuisine, Riesling lends itself very well to accompanying German dishes such as risotto with asparagus and grilled white meats. Also very successful are the contamination due to Thai cuisine which, especially with spicy dishes, makes Rieslings with high sugar content appreciable.

Sicily is a happy island for wine: from the slopes of Etna to the coasts of Cerasuolo, to the small islands of Salina and Pantelleria, each area has its own grape variety and style, with wines so different that sometimes they seem to come from different continents, obtained both from native grapes such as Grillo, Carricante and Frappato, and from great international grapes that have found a small paradise on the island, such as Chardonnay. Viticulture in this region has ancient origins, suspended between the legend that tells of a thirsty Dionysus, from whose tears the first vine was born, and the history that documents the arrival of the Greeks, and before them even the Phoenicians, with the first rooted cuttings.

Character and uniqueness of Sicilian red wines.

The slopes of Etna certainly represent one of the most suitable areas for viticulture in Sicily, with excellent results for Sicilian red wine, which here takes on an almost alpine elegance. Here the extreme conditions such as the volcanic soil, the slope of the land and the altitude of the vineyards make viticulture heroic and there are few indigenous grapes, such as Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. Sicily, however, has many other interesting appellations as regards red wines: in addition to Etna Doc we find in fact, next to the very small Doc Eloro, which preserves rare native grapes such as Perricone and Pignatello, the Contessa Entellina appellation, cradle of cult Sicilian reds, such as Mille e Una Notte, obtained from Nero d'Avola or from international Cabernet and Merlot grapes. Do not forget the Cerasuolo di Vittoria, in south-eastern Sicily, the only DOCG in the region and an admirable union of Nero d'Avola and Frappato.

Sicilian white wine: dry or sweet, it is however a masterpiece.

Carricante, Grillo, Chardonnay, Malvasia: Sicily is not only the home of great red wines but also of intense and fragrant whites and sweet wines to make you lose your mind. From the aromatic grapes of Chardonnay are born Sicilian white wines for aging in Doc Melfi and Alcamo, able to compete with the great wines of Burgundy, while Moscato, Zibibbo and Malvasia give life to fresh and exciting wines in Salina and on the Sicilian coasts, which become splendid sweet passito wines in Pantelleria, Lipari and Noto. The results of heroic viticulture on Etna are also exceptional, where the whites obtained from Carricante grapes stand out for their minerality and longevity. Last but not least, Marsala, born mainly from white grapes and historical wine of the island of Sicily.

What is the finest Sicilian wine?

It is difficult to answer this question, because Sicily has a wine production equal to that of Veneto and Tuscany, certainly we cannot fail to mention among the red wines the Mille e Una Notte by Donnafugata and the Harmonium by Firriato among the red wines and Planeta's Chardonnay among whites. However, there are other wineries that produce excellent wines such as Tasca d'Almerita and Duca di Salaparuta, Li Ciuri and Cusumano, Palmento Costanzo and Nicosia just to name a few. Finally, among the big names in sweet wines, we cannot forget the Marsala di Florio and the sweet wines of Donnafugata.

What is the oldest sweet Sicilian wine?

Marsala is undoubtedly one of the oldest sweet wines in Sicily: as early as 1832 Vincenzo Florio, a native of Bagnara Calabra, exported this sweet wine to over 99 countries around the world.

What is the best match for a white Sicilian wine?

The Sicilian white wines, with their characteristic intensity that unites them all, the minerality that characterizes those of Etna and the savory notes typical of those born on the islands are perfect in combination with all fish dishes rich in taste, from dishes with sardines up to pasta with swordfish, passing through fish soups and cous cous up to stuffed squid and sweet and sour tuna and aubergine caponata.