Producer: NICOSIA
Appellation: IGT TERRE SICILIANE
Variety: 100% Frappato
Winemaking: Fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged for 2 months.
JAN code: 4582565760873
Ruby with a purple tint. Fruity aroma of small fruits such as strawberries and raspberries, and clear aroma of shiso. The tannins are very fine, and the fresh and juicy fruit flavor spreads throughout the mouth along with clean acidity. The history of producer Nicosia began in the 1800s on the east side of Mount Etna. Grapes have been cultivated around Etna since ancient times, and at its peak, there were vineyards up to 1,500 meters above sea level. Etna's farmers worked hard to carve terraced fields on the steep slopes, and as a result of their efforts, Etna was the first in Sicily to be certified as DOC in 1968. Nicosia is known for producing Sicilian wines with excellent cost performance, combining more than 100 years of tradition with the advances in technology that have been cultivated during that time. The winery is very clean, with modern stainless steel tanks and destemmers, as well as large barrels and barriques neatly lined up. In order to let more people know about Etna's long tradition, we built an Etna Wine Museum within the winery.
Winemaker Maria Carella
A local female winemaker from Sicily. She graduated from the University of Milan. After gaining experience at various wineries, she was appointed as the chairperson of the Palermo region tasting committee in February 2008. She is particularly renowned for her winemaking of indigenous Sicilian grape varieties, and is one of the winemakers who has attracted attention for expressing the characteristics of each variety with the delicate sensibility unique to a woman.
[Field information]
Nicosia's vineyards are mainly located in the Etna and Vittoria regions. The Etna side vineyards are located in the Etna National Park, and in addition to Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, and Pinot Nero, white grapes such as Carricante and Catarratto are also grown there. The soil is volcanic and contains decomposed ash, lava, and volcanic gravel, making it rich in potassium. The average altitude is 700m, and the temperature difference between day and night is extreme, giving the grapes a beautiful aroma and freshness. The Vittoria side vineyards grow Nero d'Avola and Frappato. The altitude is 200-400m, and the soil is calcareous, mixed with clay and sand. This vineyard produces Cerazzuolo di Vittoria, the only DOCG in Sicily. We do not use any herbicides, and weeds are removed with a hoe. We do not use any chemical fertilizers, but instead use compost and green manure such as broad beans.
The producer won the grand prize in 'Il Mio Vino Almanacco', a collection of 'great value wines'!
Nicosia's exceptional value for money was recognised when the producer won the Grand Prix and was featured in a double-page spread in the 2008 edition of Il Mio Vino Almanacco, a magazine published by the popular Italian wine magazine Il Mio Vino that compiles great value wines.
[Excerpt from IL MIO VINO ALMANACCO]
Nicosia is a cantina with a long history of 110 years, and the cost performance of its wines is very high. To borrow Goethe's words, it is a cantina that can be called "roots and wings". This is because it is a cantina that is deeply rooted in the traditions of Etna while also combining modern technology to fly into the future. It owns a field near the old crater on the southeast side of Etna, and has been restoring the terraced fields made of lava since 2002, with 6 hectares currently replanted.
Featured on the cover of the popular Italian wine magazine Il Mio Vino
Etna Bianco The popular Italian wine magazine IL MIO VINO has featured Nicosia's Etna Bianco 2009 on its cover, as well as a three-page special on the wine of the month.
[Excerpt from Wine of the Month: Volcanic White Wine]
The famous producer Nicosia grows Carricante and Catarratto in the fields of the Etna Natural Park, and the wine produced from this blend of varieties is worth drinking! Currently, the Nicosia family is in its fourth generation, and grows the indigenous varieties Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, Carricante, and Catarratto. In 2008, this Etna Bianco was made with Carricante and Catarratto. 2008 is the memorable year of Nicosia's 110th anniversary. Nicosia is a modern winery, but it still remembers the founder's purpose. "We want to deliver it to our customers at an affordable price," and "If wine is a luxury, we want to make it a luxury that everyone can afford." The first vintage of this Etna Bianco was 2008, and it sold out immediately. And the 2009 vintage is even more delicious than the 2008. This wine won a gold medal at the mountain wine competition held in the Aosta Valley in July. Only three Sicilian wineries won the gold medal. Etna Bianco 2009 is excellent. It has a straw-yellow golden color, and has aromas of citrus, pear and sage. In the mouth, it has the flavors of pear, apple, citrus, especially grapefruit, and a fresh, clean acidity and a long finish. It is elegant and easy to drink, and will go well with first-class fish, vegetable dishes and pasta.