March Featured Wines – 2020 Donnafugata, Sicilia Anthìlia & 2019 Donnafugata, Sicilia La Bella Sedàra Rosso, Italy

Donnafugata was founded in Sicily by a family with a keen passion for winemaking. Since their founding in 1983 by Giacomo Rallo and his wife Gabriella Anca Rallo, and now their sons, have been able to innovate the style and perception of Sicilian wine. Sustainability is a key value of Donnafugata. Music and art are also central to the Donnafugata mission. Their labels feature a world full of colors. Original labels have fantastic language and feminine identity. They feel the labels define their wines with a unique style which is pleasant and elegant and capable of delighting those who taste them. This makes their wines enjoyable on the palate and on the eyes.

The white selection is 2020 Sicilia Anthìlia is 100% Lucido (Catarratto.)

The red selection is 2019 Sicilia La Bella Sedàra Rosso, a blend of Nero d’Avola, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Both wines have striking female images on the labels that carry stories as told on their website

2020 Donnafugata, Sicilia AnthìliaItaly $18

Anthilia 2020 has a yellow straw color. The nose presents a fresh and fruity bouquet with notes of white-fleshed fruits (peach) combined with scents of wildflowers. On the palate we continue to find the evident fruity notes accompanied by a refreshing flavor and ended by a good finish. Perfect pairing with tomato and basil bruschetta, seafood pasta, blue fish. Try also with caesar salad. Alcohol: 12.5%

2019 Donnafugata, Sicilia La Bella Sedàra Rosso, Italy $18

Sedàra 2019 is ruby red in color with purple hues It offers a fruity bouquet with hints of red fruit (cherry and plum) and spices (black pepper) combined with a light balsamic note of mint. On the palate it shows a good structure with soft tannins and a pleasant freshness. A pleasant red, versatile in food matching, perfect for every day. Serve with lasagne, chicken cacciatore, BBQ, seared tuna. Alcohol: 13.8%

August Featured Wines – 2017 Donnafugata Lighea & 2017 Donnafugata Nero d’Avola, Sicily

2017 Donnafugata Lighea, Sicily    $18

 

Zibibbo is a varietal also called Muscat of Alexandria which is originally from North Africa and was spread around the Mediterranean basin. With intense cultivation in the territories conquered by the Arabs it became as a table grape.This wine has a brilliant straw yellow color with greenish reflections. The nose offers a rich and fragrant bouquet with classic notes of orange blossom combined with citrus scents and nuances of Mediterranean pine. The nose is perfectly reflected on the palate, enlivened by a fresh mineral vein. Donnafugata suggests serving this with all types of oily fish, baked pasta in white sauce, fried fish. This is also a great summer aperitif. Alcohol: 12.5%

 

2017 Donnafugata Sherazade, Nero d’Avola, Sicily,   $19

This classic Sicilian wine  has a brilliant ruby red color with violet reflections. The nose offers a pleasantly fruity bouquet with fragrant notes of red plum and cherry, combined with light spicy scents. The palate is fleshy and perfectly reflects the bouquet revealing an extraordinary freshness. The well-integrated tannin, completes this fragrant and pleasant wine. The producer suggests serving it with fish soup, pizza or classic tomato spaghetti. This is a red you don’t expect, which is ideal as an aperitif. Alcohol: 13 %

 

Wines of the Month – Purato Catarratto/Pinot Grigio 2011, Sicily & LeSalette Valpolicella Classico 2011, Veneto, Italy

Featured Wines for September – 2011 Purato Catarratto/Pinot Grigio, Sicily & 2011 Le Salette Valpolicella Classico, Veneto, Italy

 

Label for Purato Catarratto Pinot Grigio wine2011 Purato Catarratto/Pinot Grigio IGT, Sicily                                    $12

Purato Catarratto-Pinot Grigio IGT 2011 has 60% Catarratto which gives more body to the 40% Pinot Grigio. The blending of these two grapes creates an enjoyable, everyday drinking wine that offers intense aromas of both citrus, tropical fruit flavors and a hint of dried herbs. The palate is beautifully weighted with fine texture, balanced acidity and a lingering dry finish. This is perfect with seafood or as an aperitif. The packaging of this wine is interesting since the bottle is 85% recycled glass and the labels are recycled paper with vegetable ink. Even the wine cases are made with recycled cardboard. Alcohol: 13%

 

 

label for Le Salette Valpolicella wine from Veneto

2011 LeSalette Valpolicella Classico DOC, Veneto, Italy       $17

This is wine is produced in the viticulture zone, Valpolicella. Le Salette Valpolicella Classico DOC 2011 is 50% Corvina, 40% Rondinella and Sangiovese, 5% Molinara and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon – a classic Valpolicella blend. After decades of less than stellar wines Valpolicella has come back with more refined vintages. The color of this wine is a dark red ruby with garnet highlights. The bouquet is intense and full of dry fruit and spices. The palate is soft and balanced with a long finish very much like a Beaujolais. This is a great wine to pair with end of summer steaks on the grill. Alcohol: 12.5%