SICILIAN WHITE WINES OF THE SUMMER: ARIDDU AND CATARRATTO

I have a doubt: what are the Sicilian white wines of the summer? Don't worry, we will give you a couple of tips, telling you which are the Sicilian wines that you can drink with pleasure this summer.

Don't think that we will recommend a wine that after one glass will make your head spin! There are white wines from Sicily that have moderate alcohol content, yet they are fruity, savory and so drinkable that, especially in the summer, a bottle doesn't last long.

WHAT ARE THE SICILIAN WHITE GRAPES?

The most well-known Sicilian white grapes are 8: Grillo, Catarratto, Inzolia, Carricante, Malvasia, Zibibbo, Damaschino and Grecanico. Most of the Sicilian white wines you will find on the market are a blend of these grapes, which are rarely found vinified in purity. Yet there are those who have thought of it…

GRAPES FROM THE MARSALA AREA

Fabio Ferracane has made a different choice and produces each wine from a single grape. The Ferracane farm makes white wines from two of these vines, Grillo and Catarratto, typical of the area where it is located. Here they are briefly presented, and why they are the Sicilian white wines of the summer, that you should try.

TWO EXAMPLES OF SICILIAN WHITE WINES OF THE SUMMER

The Magical Ariddu

A vine with a funny name that easily remains in your memory, which we cultivate with care and passion and from which we produce the first of the Sicilian white wines of the summer, which will not disappoint you: the Magico Ariddu, pure Grillo.

“Ariddu” is nothing more than the name of the Grillo grape in Sicilian. It is a wine that is born in a magical place: the vineyards border the salt mines of Marsala. The flavor is felt in every sip, and brings to mind the enchantment of these places, which remain impressed on those who have visited them.

Here in the area we are obsessed with couscous, so excuse me if it is one of the first courses that we recommend pairing with this great wine. You know that the famous Cous Cous Fest is held in Trapani every year, right? They offer it in many variations: with seafood, grilled vegetables, etc.

Ariddu is a wine for summer evenings, when the heat is decreasing and (we sincerely hope so…) a bit of wind is picking up. Pour yourself a glass of Ariddu, accompany it with some appetizers and a plate of Trapani couscous, and the magic is done!

The White Cheek

There is not just one Catarratto, but three! The common Catarratto, the shiny white Catarratto and the extra-shiny white Catarratto. In our vineyards we grow the shiny white Catarratto, from which we make one of the many Sicilian white wines of the summer: the Guanciabianca, a pure Catarratto.

Catarratto grapes are Fabio's favorite grapes, and he considers Guanciabianca 2018 a wine that best expresses its territory. Fabio gave this wine its name following one of his other loves, that for animals. “Guanciabianca” is in fact the name of a species of birds that we find in Sicily. Childhood memories, when as a child, with his older brother Massimo and his sister Tiziana, he went looking for nests, come together in the name of this wine.

You can drink Guanciabianca for example with a white pizza with courgette flowers and fresh mozzarella. Alternatively, you can accompany it with a Pantelleria salad (the one with tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes and the fantastic Pantelleria capers), and you will have summer on your plate and in your glass. 😉

Did you like our suggestions – ok, a little biased, but genuine! – for great white wines to accompany your summer?