Zones in Sicilia
Wine: Red wine
Taste: Semi dry
Volume: Strong
Min. alcohol: 13%
Storage potential: 3 years
In 2005, Sicily received its first, and until now only, DOCG wine, the red wine Cerasuolo di Vittoria. It's cultivated in the southeastern part of the island, with the city Vittoria as its namesake and administrative center for the variety.
The DOCG zone includes the cities: Cosimo, Acate, Chiaramonte Gulfi, Santa Croce Camerina and Ragusa, all in the Vittoria province. The zone also includes Niscemi, Gela, Riesi, Butera and Mazzarino in the Caltanissetta province, together with Caltagirone, Licodia Eubea and Mazzarrone in the Catania province.
In relation to earlier, under DOC, they have changed the grape composition, where the amount of Nero d’Avola has increased, the maximum yield reduced, and the Classico zone has been defined.
The grape composition in Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG consists of the powerful Nero d’Avola (50-70%), together with Frappato (30-50). The increased amount of Frappato results in a lighter, easy-to-drink and fruitier wine, where Nero d’Avola contributes with its recognized power and fullness.
The color varies from the cherry red to violet, the aroma is flowery and fruity, the taste dry, full, soft and harmonious. The minimum alcohol concentration is 13%, and the wine must be available for sale June 1 the year after the harvest, at the earliest.
The Classico type, Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico DOCG, includes the communes Vittoria, Comiso, Acate, Chiramonte Gulfi and Santa Croce Camerina in the Ragusa province, parts of Gela in the Caltanissetta province, together with Caltagirone, Licodia Eubea and Mazzarrone in the Catania province.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico is cherry red, and with age it has a tendency towards granite red. The bouquet contains hints of cherry, while the aged wines have notes of plums, berries, chocolate, leather and tobacco. The taste is dry, full, soft and harmonious. As with the regular variety, the alcohol concentration is 13%.
Classico can, at the earliest, be available for sale March 31 in the second year after the harvest.
Both versions of Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG are well-suited to roast, lamb and spicy dishes.
The mandatory aging period for Classico is 18 months and the potential shelf life is 2-3 years.
Did you know?
That Italy in 2011 was the worlds largest wine producer?
If you envision Sicily as an independent country, it would have the world’s seventh largest wine production, but despite the large quantities, the quality is high and steadily increasing. Today, Sicily has Italy’s third-largest wine production, and the island’s wine is Southern Italy’s most stable in terms of quality.
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