Top 100 red wines of Sicily - Page 7

Discover the top 100 best red wines of Sicily as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the red wines that are popular of Sicily and the best vintages to taste in this region.

Discovering the wine region of Sicily

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.

Discover the grape variety: Tannat

Tannat is a red grape variety from Béarn which belongs to the cotoïdes family. Present in several vineyards of France, it occupies nearly 3,000 ha. Its leaves are reddish with tan patches. Its bunches are either of normal size or larger. Its berries have a thin skin and are rounded. Its foliage has a swarthy appearance. This variety must be pruned long because it is vigorous. It likes sandy and gravelly soils. Tannat is often exposed to leafhoppers and mites. It is also somewhat susceptible to grey rot. It has 11 approved clones, including 474, 717 and 794. Once mature, this variety produces acidic, fruity, tannic, acidic and full-bodied wines. Various aromas emerge, notably tobacco, cinnamon and exotic wood. Tannat is rarely used alone. It is combined with iron-servadou to obtain a fruitier taste or with cabernet sauvignon to be more rounded.

Food and wine pairing with a red wine of Sicily

red wines from the region of Sicily go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, pasta or lamb such as recipes of beef mironton, pipe rigate bolognese sauce or rack of lamb with herbs.

Organoleptic analysis of red wine of Sicily

On the nose in the region of Sicily often reveals types of flavors of red fruit, red fruit or pineapple and sometimes also flavors of cream, cherry or grapefruit. In the mouth in the region of Sicily is a powerful.