Sicily Archives -

COS Frappato 2023 Review – Light Red for a Hot Summer Day

When we think of Sicilian wines, it is easy to immediately pop over to the popular wine region along Mount Etna in the northeast.

But there are numerous excellent wine regions all over the island, and Vittoria in the south is another that lovers of fine Italian wine should keep in mind, primarily for its two most popular grapes-Frappato and Nero d'Avola!

One of the most acclaimed producers in this area is COS (particularly for their Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG blend of these two grapes), and when we found a bottle of their single varietal Frappato available at home, we snatched it up right away. This one is a light and flavorful red wine that is perfect on a hot summer day!

One thing we love about wine is finding varietal bottles featuring grapes that are historically used for blending. In the Etna region of Sicily, Nerello Cappuccio is one such grape, often found in small proportions with more commonly grown grapes, like Nerello Mascalese (the dominant red grape of Etna DOC).

So when we stumbled upon a varietal bottle when tasting at Benanti, we were overjoyed. Even better? It was a fantastic bottle, and we bought one of the bottles to age a little bit more at home.

The staff at Benanti recommended not holding onto it for too long, as it was drinking really well at the time, so our curiosity got the best of us about a year later and we opened it up when it was about 11 years old.

What a treat this one was!

If you're planning a trip to Sicily, you must allocate some time to go wine tasting. The island is home to some of the world's best wines, and, as a wine blog, we'd be remiss if we didn't advocate for visiting wineries as much as your time allows.

So, where do you stay in Sicily if you want to go wine tasting?

Well, we have good news, more good news, and a bit of bad news. The first good news? There are wineries all over Sicily. The better news? They're often easily accessible from most major tourist towns and cities via a rental car. The bad news? The wine is so good, particularly around Mount Etna, that you also should plan to spend a bit of time in the heart of it all (so, we suppose, it is only bad news for those who may be short on time, like I was on my first trip).

So in this one, we thought we'd take a dive into where you may want to stay when exploring Sicily's wine scene and take a more focused look at the logistics of exploring the Etna region in earnest.

When it comes to red wines grown on Mount Etna, we often trend to Nerello Mascallese- the primary grape used in Etna DOC wine.

But some wineries go against the grain and grow Sicilian grapes that are not approved in Etna DOC blends. Gambino Vini on the eastern slopes of Etna is one such producer, and their lineup of Nero d'Avola has us ordering more again and again.

Gambino Vini's Duvanera is one such bottle that we always have at least one of on hand at all times, and it only takes a few sips to realize why that is.

Sicilian-made Grillo is quickly becoming one of those grapes that we enjoy no matter how it is made. Young? Delicious. Oaked? We can dig it. A bit older? A lot have developed some nice character with time, too.

So while we were in Sicily, we made sure to buy as many bottles of Grillo as we could to bring home. One bottle was Marco de Bartoli Vignaverde, which, true to name, drinks like a light and refreshing wine all with the character of Grillo we know and love!

There really is something special about Sicily. This Italian island in the Mediterranean has just about everything- beautiful landscapes, incredible food, and, of course, even better wine.

It is because of this (and more) that Sicily draws us back again and again. I've visited the country on immersive visits twice, and am already planning a third because no matter how much time you spend on the island, it never seems to be enough.

So let's dive down into how to plan a trip for wine tasting in Sicily- what you can try, where you should go, where you should stay, and what else there is to do outside of tasting wine!

Tenuta Regaleali is a wine producer we had our sights on when visiting Sicily but, sadly, did not make it out to visit. So when we found a bottle of their Guarnaccio (Perricone) in the store, we knew we had to pick it up to take home.

While perhaps a lesser-known grape by Sicilian standards, this one packed a punch and showcases why Sicily is one of the most versatile, and delicious, wine regions in Italy!

Occhipinti has quickly become one of our favorite producers in Sicily, and this Vittoria-based winery makes some of the finest Frappato and Nero d'Avola you'll find on the island.

But this one makes more than these famous grapes, and their SP68 Bianco is one such bottle featuring Albanello and Muscat of Alexandria- or as it is known in Sicily, Zibibbo!

After finding this one in a store in Ragusa, we knew we had to pick up a bottle to take home with us and enjoy later- partly for being one of the only bottles containing Albanello we have ever seen. For those who like bright, semi-floral bottles, this one is for you!

When traveling in Sicily, you really need to check out some wineries. But there is far more to Sicily than the famous wineries on Mount Etna, and other regions like Vittoria, Marsala, and the island of Pantelleria also make some absolutely beautiful wines from grapes like Nero d'Avola, Frappato, Nerello Mascalese (Etna), Zibibbo, fortified Marsalas, and so many more.

Over my two visits, I have had the chance to explore several wineries in Sicily, primarily focused around Marsala and Etna regions in particular.

So, in this one, I thought I'd share a bit more about each of the wineries we've personally visited and what you can expect at a tasting! Be sure to check back in the future as we will update this article when we return to Sicily and check out more producers.

Note: As with all of our winery guides, the following are a selection of Sicilian wineries we've personally visited- particularly in the Etna and Marsala areas. These are just a starting point as there are many great wineries to check out all over Sicily! It is also worth noting that many of the wineries featured in this article are available in the USA on companies like Wine.com. When tasting, we did a quick price/availability check to maximize our shopping experience.

When I visited Sicily in 2019, I was able to stop at only one winery, Gambino Vini on the slopes of Mount Etna. While I regret not being able to try more wineries during my visit, I really fell in love with this producer and always have a few bottles on hand to enjoy at home.

One was their Feu d'O bottle made of a blend of Grillo and Carricante grapes.

We opted to pair this one with a mushroom-based pasta and quite enjoyed the pairing!

COS Frappato 2023 Review – Light Red for a Hot Summer Day

Benanti Nerello Cappuccio 2014 Review – A Rare Find

Where to Stay in Sicily for Wine Tasting – Etna and More

Gambino Vini Duvanera 2018 Review – Etna Nero d’Avola

Marco de Bartoli Vignaverde 2023 Grillo Review – Bright Acid

How to Plan a Wine Tasting in Sicily – Tips and Advice

Tenuta Regaleali Perricone 2021 – Run the Flavor Spectrum

Occhipinti SP68 Bianco 2022 Review – Bright and Floral

7 Wineries in Sicily to Check Out When Exploring the Island

Gambino Vini Feu d’O 2018 Review – Grillo and Carricante from Sicily