Home
News
In Focus
Business
Metro
Nation
World
Sports
Feature
Opinion
View more »Opinion Columns
Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
Restaurants get off to a quick start thanks to game-changing policies
High service charges on event ticket refunds call for further regulation
Sunday
- Subscribe
Ancient island treasures
By John H. Isacs |
July 17, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
REVISITING the topic of Sicilian wines is always a delicious summertime pleasure. The island in the Mediterranean Sea and home to Europe's highest active volcano, Mount Etna (pictured above), at 3,350 meters is now making some of Italy's most affordable premium wines.
Italy's oldest winemaking
Settled as early as 8000 BC by tribes from the Iberian Peninsula, the first archeological evidence of winemaking in Sicily dates back about 3,500 years ago when Phoenician traders brought vines to the island. Recently, some historians and vine DNA specialists have been suggesting that vine cultivation and crude winemaking may well predate the earliest Phoenician settlements in Sicily. In any case, Sicily was the first region in what is modern day Italy to make wine. Homer's epic work, "The Odyssey" prominently mentioned the virtues of Sicilian wines. Through the centuries as the island was occupied by a number of different peoples, kingdoms and countries, Sicily developed a unique and diversified food and wine culture.
Established icons
The quality and recognition of Sicilian wines have risen dramatically over the past few decades. Two producers who have helped bring Sicilian wines to the world's attention are Donnafugata and Planeta. The former is a family-owned winery making wines for more than 150 years. I recently tasted new vintages of three of their wines. All exhibited the balance and typicity that has helped make Donnafugata one of Italy's most respected producers. The 2009 Anthilia Sicilia (IGT) is a fresh and elegant white wine made of local varieties. The two reds were equally impressive. The 2009 Sedara Sicilia (IGT) is a medium body wine with a sexy combination of fruit and spice, while the 2007 Tancredi Contessa Entellina (DOC) is a deeply colored wine with excellent complexity and length.
Planeta is another huge name in Sicilian winemaking with five boutique wineries and 390 hectares of vineyards in different parts of Sicily. Run by Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta, Planeta is one of Italy's most dynamic producers making a wide range of wines from local and international varieties. Their Chardonnay is perhaps the best white wine from Sicily while their Santa Cecilia Nero d'Avolo red beautifully showcases the potential of Sicily's most important red wine grape. The Planeta Merlot is a top example of an international varietal red wine from Sicily.
Referring to Firriato as an icon is admittedly a push as the winery was only established in 1985 in the Trapani countryside. The energetic and talented husband-wife team of Salvatore and Vinzia di Gaetano behind Firriato have won numerous awards for their wines and been placed in the elite of Sicilian winemaking. The Firriato Altavilla Nero d'Avolo and Cabernet Sauvignon red is a harmonious wine with character.
Rising stars
Some of Italy's brightest new winemaking stars come from Mount Etna located on the east coast of Sicily. Though wines have been made in the shadow of Europe's tallest active volcano for thousands of years, only recently have they received world attention for their quality and distinction.
The sloping valleys below Mount Etna feature fertile volcanic soil and plentiful sun that nurture vines and olive trees. Traditionally, the wines of this area tended to be rough and rustic and only favored by the local population.
Now modern winemaking techniques and equipment are used to mitigate the ravaging heat and scorching sun. The result is charismatic wines that are prized by connoisseurs around the world. The unique terroir and little-known indigenous varieties provide wine connoisseurs with high-quality, palate-stimulating wines that are still remarkably affordable. I highly recommend the producers Cantina Patria, Benanti Winery and Tenuta Terre.
Sicilian dishes
The island of Sicily is blessed with many of Italy's best ingredients used to make some of the world's most beloved Italian dishes, so there's sure to be a Sicilian dish and wine to seduce your palate.
In addition to the island's famous wild rabbit dish, visitors to Sicily will find some of the freshest and most delicious vegetables and seafood in all of Italy. The flavorful sausages and cheeses of Sicily also deserve mention. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the devilishly delicious desserts of Sicily. The combination of Sicilian sweet wines and desserts is truly one of the gourmet world's most hedonistic experiences. But, alas, this must be a topic for another day and another column.
Italy's oldest winemaking
Settled as early as 8000 BC by tribes from the Iberian Peninsula, the first archeological evidence of winemaking in Sicily dates back about 3,500 years ago when Phoenician traders brought vines to the island. Recently, some historians and vine DNA specialists have been suggesting that vine cultivation and crude winemaking may well predate the earliest Phoenician settlements in Sicily. In any case, Sicily was the first region in what is modern day Italy to make wine. Homer's epic work, "The Odyssey" prominently mentioned the virtues of Sicilian wines. Through the centuries as the island was occupied by a number of different peoples, kingdoms and countries, Sicily developed a unique and diversified food and wine culture.
Established icons
The quality and recognition of Sicilian wines have risen dramatically over the past few decades. Two producers who have helped bring Sicilian wines to the world's attention are Donnafugata and Planeta. The former is a family-owned winery making wines for more than 150 years. I recently tasted new vintages of three of their wines. All exhibited the balance and typicity that has helped make Donnafugata one of Italy's most respected producers. The 2009 Anthilia Sicilia (IGT) is a fresh and elegant white wine made of local varieties. The two reds were equally impressive. The 2009 Sedara Sicilia (IGT) is a medium body wine with a sexy combination of fruit and spice, while the 2007 Tancredi Contessa Entellina (DOC) is a deeply colored wine with excellent complexity and length.
Planeta is another huge name in Sicilian winemaking with five boutique wineries and 390 hectares of vineyards in different parts of Sicily. Run by Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta, Planeta is one of Italy's most dynamic producers making a wide range of wines from local and international varieties. Their Chardonnay is perhaps the best white wine from Sicily while their Santa Cecilia Nero d'Avolo red beautifully showcases the potential of Sicily's most important red wine grape. The Planeta Merlot is a top example of an international varietal red wine from Sicily.
Referring to Firriato as an icon is admittedly a push as the winery was only established in 1985 in the Trapani countryside. The energetic and talented husband-wife team of Salvatore and Vinzia di Gaetano behind Firriato have won numerous awards for their wines and been placed in the elite of Sicilian winemaking. The Firriato Altavilla Nero d'Avolo and Cabernet Sauvignon red is a harmonious wine with character.
Rising stars
Some of Italy's brightest new winemaking stars come from Mount Etna located on the east coast of Sicily. Though wines have been made in the shadow of Europe's tallest active volcano for thousands of years, only recently have they received world attention for their quality and distinction.
The sloping valleys below Mount Etna feature fertile volcanic soil and plentiful sun that nurture vines and olive trees. Traditionally, the wines of this area tended to be rough and rustic and only favored by the local population.
Now modern winemaking techniques and equipment are used to mitigate the ravaging heat and scorching sun. The result is charismatic wines that are prized by connoisseurs around the world. The unique terroir and little-known indigenous varieties provide wine connoisseurs with high-quality, palate-stimulating wines that are still remarkably affordable. I highly recommend the producers Cantina Patria, Benanti Winery and Tenuta Terre.
Sicilian dishes
The island of Sicily is blessed with many of Italy's best ingredients used to make some of the world's most beloved Italian dishes, so there's sure to be a Sicilian dish and wine to seduce your palate.
In addition to the island's famous wild rabbit dish, visitors to Sicily will find some of the freshest and most delicious vegetables and seafood in all of Italy. The flavorful sausages and cheeses of Sicily also deserve mention. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the devilishly delicious desserts of Sicily. The combination of Sicilian sweet wines and desserts is truly one of the gourmet world's most hedonistic experiences. But, alas, this must be a topic for another day and another column.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
