Sicily General

Question 1

Strait that separates Sicily from the Italian peninsula

Answer 1

Strait of Messina
(3 km, 2 miles at narrowest point)

Question 2

Diego Planeta

Answer 2

• Renewed focus on quality in 1970s and 1980s
• 1973, became president of Cantine Settesoli, a high-quality co-op based in Menfi
• 1985, became president of state-owned Istituto Regionale della Vite e del Vino (IRVV)
• Believed industry had to be exposed to what was happening outside Sicily, sending enologists abroad to study modern viticulture and winemaking techniques
• IRVV planted experimental vineyards to study both native and international grape varieties

Question 3

Sicily
Vineyard area planted

Answer 3

appx 120,000 ha
* most in Italy
* (119,250 ha, 295,000 acres, 2022)

Question 4

Sicily
Wine production

Answer 4

• 4th highest production in Italy
• Although most vineyard area planted in Italy, lower yields, lower planting density, and prevalence of old bush vines, only 4th largest in production
• 5.9 million hl (65 million cases, 2022)
• Only 20% of wine is bottled on the island; much of it is still shipped in bulk to the mainland to be bottled or blended into other wines

Question 5

Sicily
Number of DOCGs

Answer 5

1 DOCG, Cerasulo di Vittoria DOCG

Question 6

Sicily
Number of DOCs

Answer 6

23 DOCs (2024)
* 38% of production is at DOC/G level

Question 7

Sicily
Number of IGPs

Answer 7

7 IGPs

Question 8

Sicily
Majority of production

Answer 8

• 2/3 production is white
• 1/3 is red and rosato
• Largest concentration of plantings in the western part of the island

Question 9

Sicily
Most planted variety

Answer 9

Catarratto

Question 10

Sicily
2nd most planted variety

Answer 10

Nero d’Avola

Question 11

Sicily
Main provinces of production on the western side of the island

Answer 11

• Trapani
• Agrigento
• Palermo

Question 12

Sicily
Oldest evidence of viticulture

Answer 12

6,000 years ago
* Archeological discovery of wine residue in terra-cotta jars, inside a cave at Monte Kronio, SW Sicily, 2017

Question 13

albarello

Answer 13

bush vines

Question 14

Catarratto
Name origin

Answer 14

Named for the cataracts, or waterfalls, a reference to the high amount of amount of wine it produces

Question 15

Catarratto
Two main biotypes

Answer 15

• Catarratto Comune - higher sugar, lower acidity
• Catarratto Lucido - more compact bunches, can be more refined
• Often interplanted and genetically identical, but have separate entries in Italian national registry
• Both offspring of Garganega

Question 16

Carricante
Name origin

Answer 16

caricare, “to load
* as in loading up a cart or donkey with a large volume of grapes

Question 17

Nero d’Avola
aka

Answer 17

Calabrese
* Officially listed as Calabrese in the national registry

Question 18

Nero d’Avola
Name origin

Answer 18

Named for the town of Avola, coast of SE Sicily

Question 19

Sicily’s 1st DOC

Answer 19

Etna, 1968

Question 20

Etna
Influential producers that brought attention to the area in 1980s and 1990s

Answer 20

* Benanti family
* Salvo Foti, winemaker

Question 21

Etna
Vineyard elevation

Answer 21

300-1,000 m+
* Begins at 300 m (980 ft)
* Northern slope - DOC allows plantings up to 800 m (2,600 ft), largest number of producers, most renowned for red grapes
* Eastern slope - Can be planted above 900 m (3,000 ft)
* Southern slope - Can be above 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
* Eastern and Southern slopes, because of higher altitudes, more white grapes

Question 22

Etna DOC
Bianco
Grape requirements

Answer 22

Min 60% Carricante, plus Catarratto(s), Minella Bianca, Grecanico Dorato, and other white grapes

Question 23

Etna DOC
Bianco Superiore
Grape and commune requirements

Answer 23

• Min 80% Carricante
• Must come only from the commune of Milo, on the eastern slope

Question 24

Etna DOC
Rosso, Rosato, Spumante
Grape requirements

Answer 24

• Min 80% Nerello Mascalese
• Plus, Nerello Cappuccio and even white grapes

Question 25

Faro DOC Style and grape requirements

Answer 25

* Red wines only * 45-60% Nerello Mascalese * 15-30% Nerello Cappuccio * 5-10% Nocera * Max 15% Nero d’Avola, Gaglioppo, and/or Sangiovese.

Question 26

Mamertino DOC Grape requirements

Answer 26

White - based on Grillo and Inzolia (Ansonica) Reds - based on Calabrese (Nero d’Avola) and Nocera Off the northern coast of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea, a short ferry ride from Milazzo, are the Aeolian Islands, also referred to as the Lipari Islands, named for the largest and most populated island. In addition to Lipari, the principal islands are Salina, Vulcano, Panarea, Stromboli, Alicudi, and Filicudi. The archipelago was formed by volcanic activity, and the islands of Stromboli and Vulcano still have ongoing eruptions. Salina has the most vineyard plantings.

Question 27

Mamertino DOC Location, soil, geography

Answer 27

* Near port town of Milazzo * Soils: more iron and a brown tint * Area more protected from wind and rainfall (vs. Faro), due to the north-facing foothills of Peloritani and Nebrodi mountains

Question 28

Aeolian Islands Principal islands

Answer 28

* Aeolian Islands aka **Lipari Islands**, named for largest and most populated island *** Salina, Vulcano, Panarea, Stromboli, Alicudi, Filicudi** * Archipelago formed by volcanic activity, islands of Stromboli and Vulcano still have ongoing eruptions * Salina has the most vineyard plantings

Question 29

Malvasia delle Lipari DOC Styles Grape varieties

Answer 29

* Sweet white, passito, fortified wines * 92–95% Malvasia di Lipari (Malvasia di Lipari is the grape variety, Malvasia delle Lipari is the DOC) * Must also include 5–8% Corinto Nero * Covers all the islands

Question 30

Corinto Nero

Answer 30

* Local red grape some believe is a mutation of Sangiovese * Must be 5-8% of the blend for Malvaisa delle Lipari DOC * Gives wines a coppery tint

Question 31

Malvasia di Lipari

Answer 31

Genetically identical to Calabria’s Greco Bianco, Sardinia’s Malvasia di Sardegna, Madeira’s Malvasia Candida, Croatia’s Malvasia Dubrovačka, and Spain’s Malvasía de Sitges

Question 32

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG Year established

Answer 32

2005

Question 33

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOC Grape Requirements

Answer 33

50–70% Nero d’Avola 30–50% Frappato

Question 34

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOC Classico subzone

Answer 34

* Surrounds most historic growing area * Require longer aging, March 31 of 2nd year following harvest (about 18 months)