Sicily is the Southernmost region of Italy, and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. For over 2500 years, Sicily (Sicilia in Italian) has been an important centre of Mediterranean viticulture, although the reputation and style of its wines have changed considerably over time. The island was once best known for its Sweet muscatels (see Pantelleria), and later for its fortified Marsala. Today, many of its best-known wines are Dry table wines produced under the regional designation IGT Terre Siciliane, or Sicilia DOC (see below).
At its widest point, Sicily measures 280 kilometers (175 miles) from east to west, and about a third of that distance from North to south. Its roughly triangular shape earned the island the nickname Trinacria (the triangle) in the Middle Ages and is reflected in the triskelion (a three-pronged pattern) at the Center of the regional flag. With constant sunshine and moderate rainfall, Sicily's classic Mediterranean Climate is ideally suited to wine Grape production. The Warm, dry climate means that mould and rot are kept to a minimum, especially in well-ventilated areas that benefit from coastal breezes.
Traditional glass bottles still dominate, but there is also a rising focus on the environmental credentials and lifestyle advantages offered by quality wines in bag-in-box, cans, paper bottles, returnable glass bottles and other so-called alternative packaging formats. Leading wine writers in the UK recently signed an open letter spearheaded by the Wine Traders for Alternative Formats (WTAF) group, which said a greater focus on viable alternatives to traditional glass bottles could significantly ...
Northern Rhône 2020 overall rating: 4.5/5 A reliably fresh, balanced and approachable vintage – a return to classicism after a series of powerful years. Excellent white wines. Northern Rhône 2020 red wine of the vintage: Domaine Rostaing, La Côte Brune, Côte-Rôtie 2020 Northern Rhône 2020 white wine of the vintage: Domaine JL Chave, Hermitage 2020 The main features of the year were drought, heat and a very early harvest. Thankfully there were heavy rains in October, November and December 2019 w ...
The Drinks Trust has partnered with Whisky.Auction to host its first annual auction, with all proceeds used to fund the different projects through which the charity supports the UK hospitality sector. The Drinks Trust is a community organisation for the drinks industry, offering educational, institutional, and peer-to-peer support to the sector’s professionals. It also provides wellbeing and financial assistance in challenging times, such as those the industry is currently facing. In 2020 alone ...
