Sicily, like the rest of italy, has long been known as red wine territory. Only a people as stubbornly prideful as sicilians would choose to grow wine on the slopes of an active volcanoand were happy they do. From the entry level anthilia and sedara to the tancredo, mille e una notte and the ben rye, this is a. At the same time, the companys books have moved for the first time. In fact, the hard work and excellent wines produced at this historic winery are what catapulted this unknown part of sicily to the enological forefront some 15 years ago.
Etna, sicily s active volcano and wine production area wines presented will be available for sale at vino venue so you can taste along for the ultimate sensory experience. Benanti employed a talented young sicilian enologist, salvo foti, and. Giuseppe benanti, began the production of wines on one of his fathers old farms on the slopes of mount etna, at viagrande catania. The wellestablished benanti estate produces a wide range of wines, but this singlevineyard red is one of the best. Buy 2009 benanti il musico bianco passito sicilia 50cl. Benantis brutal comeback in sicilian wine wine spectator.
June 2016 benanti is one of the oldest and most prestigious wineries in sicily, and as such, only allows tastings by appointment in their family. Benanti s wines are among the best made on the volcano. Benanti winery viagrande 2021 all you need to know before. Today, benanti has expanded to encompass vineyards in pachino on the.
In the late 1980s, he began investing in a dream of making great wines. Visit benanti winery on your trip to viagrande or italy. The power of terroir in sicilys volcanic white wines the. Benanti lamoremio rosso sicilia igt, sicily winesearcher. Aug 01, 2020 benanti reception cantina is an amazing place. Feb 26, 2021 ironically, although statistically sicily is at the top of the 20 wine producing regions of italy, sicilians drink the least of all italians. Made with the regions signature white grape, carricante. Redhot sicily s top wine regions ill drink to that episode 318. Finely meshed and mediumbodied, with sculpted tannins and a lingering tang of mineral on the finish. Benanti etna bianco 2019 front label benanti etna bianco 2019. Cooking classes at benanti winery the thinking traveller. Benanti viticoltori wineryvineyard in viagrande facebook. Wine from sicily, sicilian wine buy wine online total. As long as we have 2 travelling we can do it for you when you want to.
Join us for a live, interactive tasting with cantina benanti for a tour of mt. We stayed at feudo vagliasindi, built atop an 18thcentury palmento. Benanti s wine making history is synonymous with etna wine making history. Wine has been produced by the family for several generations. Etna, sicily s active volcano and wine production area. Its an etna bianco superiore doc, pure carricante, unwooded, bottled after. Prince of the volcano antonio at benanti winery on mt. Jan 11, 2021 salvino benanti, together with his brother antonio, has been managing the farm founded by his father giuseppe in the 1980s for some years. The only sparkling wine made from 100% carricante in sicily using the traditional methode champenoise. Jan 23, 2017 from their first vintage of pietramarina, 1990 released in 1994 under the tenuta di castiglione label, the fresh, salty, complex whiteunique on sicilywas a hit in italy.
Benanti rovitello etna rosso summary benanti winery was founded in 1988 in castiglione di sicilia, on the northern slope of mount etna in sicily, under the name tenuta di castiglione, by cataniaborn giuseppe benanti, then aged 43, whose grandfather was a grower at an amateurial level in the late 1800s. Loved this winery tour where we learned the history of wine making in sicily and how the business is being transformed since guiseppi benanti gave ownership to his two sons. Wine tasting in a charming tasting room, as well as lunch, can be arranged at the property. Benanti 2014 ser ra della contessa etna rosso doc the wine spectator rating.
Benanti etna bianco 2019 from sicily, italy pale yellow with bright greenish tints. Description and tasting of a great volcanic wine, the benanti etna rosso. Local family, local people, local grape varietals, local pride and values. Etna rosso i wine tasting i italian wine i sicily i benanti. Benanti s goal was to resurrect the winemaking customs of his family from the late 1800s, producing wine primarily from the native varieties on mt. From the entry level anthilia and sedara to the tancredo, mille e una notte and the ben rye, this is a very consistent winery. Etna has always inspired winemakers, enthusiasts, and wine lovers. The clean, citrusforward, easydrinking wine with flavors of green apple, stone fruit, saline, minerals, and persistent acidity paired with mediterranean red prawn, citrus baked sheeps milk ricotta, and prickly pear. March 2019 this stop was one of the highlights of our two week trip around the island of sicily. From the savory side, the salty carricantes of sicily. Its grapes come from old vines of nerello mascalese and nerello cappuccio, trained as bushes on the. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates. And indeed, this wine, whose name recalls volcanic landscapes, flintstones, minerals and saline sea breezes, is now unanimously considered one of the most typical, elegant and ageworthy whites in italy. Benanti proudly describes itself as an indigenous winery.
Etna bianco, benanti, sicily, italy 2019 vin cognito. Benanti, a familyrun, exclusive winery located on the slopes of the etna volcano in sicily, is among the most prominent producers of fine wines in italy. The final tasting was presented inside the main house at a dining table filled with cheese, olives, honey, and charcuterie as a fantastic backdrop to the highly acclaimed wines. Benantis wines were among the first i tried from sicily, and their pietramarina was the. Benanti winery viagrande 2021 all you need to know. Benanti is a wine producer located on the slopes of mount etna on the italian island of sicily. Oct 31, 2020 several years back i had the joy of a lateautumn yoga holiday in sicily, near randazzo on the northern slopes of mount etna. Respect for the historical traditions of etnas contrade has remained a cornerstone for benanti since the beginning. At the end of the 1800s, giuseppe benanti, grandfather of dr. Etna has simply never existed before in the english language.
This book is highly recommended for those who love etna wines and anyone who wants first hand knowledge about this profound and mysterious wine region. May 08, 2018 sicily s granita di caffe, or coffee granita, is the refreshment of choice practically any day of the year. But by the early 21st century, the grape had largely been. Giuseppe benanti started making wine from his familys winery and estate vineyards in the late 1980s, there were less than 10 producers in etna. Aromas are intense, delicate, and mildly fruity apple. An inspiring wine tale from sicily benanti vineyards, mount etna sicily giuseppe benanti foresees a significant growth of sicilian wines, also owing to the regions wonderful indigenous. This is a fine etna bianco, bristling with citrus and coldtothetouch minerals. Wines presented will be available for sale at vino venue so you can taste along for the ultimate sensory experience. Benanti began as the hobby of wine loving giuseppe benanti, now 71, a third generation catania pharmacist who built a successful international ophthalmological products company. Sicily, the ball waiting to be kicked by italys boot, is currently one of the creative hotspots for italian wine.
June 2016 benantiis one of the oldest and most prestigious wineries in sicily, and as such, only allows tastings by appointment in their family. Benanti are the winemaking house that started off a significant portion of the renaissance in the 1980s when no one was really looking this way for great wines. Its made entirely from carricante and sees no oak, deriving its complexity instead. From etna and the salty sea, a white of great potential wine enthusiast. Benanti buy wine, spirits and beer online or locally. Long maligned for producing oceans of deeply coloured, overly alcoholic wine that was shipped north by the tankerload to boost the paler wines of the north and france, it then dabbled with international varieties like chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and. Benanti rosso di verzella etna rosso 20 from sicily, italy ruby red color. Contrade selectionwines that respect the specific inclinations of each slope. Jul 20, 20 flavors of ripe and baked apples mix with wet chalkboard notes. Since you cant visit wine country, were bringing sicilian wine country to your living room. Its grapes come from old vines of nerello mascalese and nerello cappuccio, trained as. Jul 18, 2019 in centuries past, according to ian dagatas excellent book native wine grapes of italy, carricante was grown all over sicily. Sicily luxury wine and gourmet food tour tasting sicilian. The winery is located in the east part of sicily, in the etna region.
Find the best selction and prices on over 8,000 different wines. Benanti s wines are among the best made on the volcano today. Benanti lamoremio rosso sicilia igt, sicily prices. The largest island in the mediterranean is the most familiar of italys 20 regions, thanks to cinema paradiso, giuseppe di lampedusas the leopard, horses heads, marlon brando and the corleone clan, but also its least typical. Frequent changes in topography, elevation, and weather influence each campus store read more. From etna and the salty sea, a white of great potential. An enchanting journey across sicily for a wine focused tour that highlights some of the best wineries in sicily and italy planeta, regaleali, and benanti wineries that we will visit as well as other worldclass wineries whose exquisite wines we will sample. Grapes have been grown on the flanks of mount etna in sicily probably ever since the first. They have racy acidity and a saltiness that brings to mind the sea breeze. Robert parkers wine advocate noted that benanti s winemaking history is synonymous with etna winemaking history. Benanti 2012 pietramarina bianco superiore etna 89 points. Despite that, they are surrounded by 250,000 acres of vineyardsat sea level, on the rolling hills of the interior, and on mountain sides. On the nose are intense aromas with hints of vanilla and ripe fruit. Mediterranean, but large differences between regions and picking times based on altitude and proximity to the sea number of docgs.
The grape known as carricante makes up the entirety of the white wine produced in this section of the benanti estate. It was established in the late 19th century, and has been making wine from indigenous grape varieties in the etnean terroir since. Donnafugata the name of this winery is inspired by the most famous sicilian book, il gattopardo the leopard which gave the name donnafugata to the country estates of the prince of salina. Benanti rovitello etna rosso summary benanti winery was founded in 1988 in castiglione di sicilia, on the northern slope of mount etna in sicily, under the name tenuta di castiglione, by cataniaborn giuseppe benanti, then aged 43, whose grandfather was a. Indigenous grapes create a new era for sicilian white wine sicily was once infamous for its jug wines. Benanti etna rovittello rosso 2014 from sicily, italy rovittello is a historic etna rosso, first produced in 1990. Benanti, pietra marina etna bianco 2016 parcelle wine. This varietal, indigenous not only to sicily but to the etna region itself, is sometimes also known as catanese bianco. Benanti etna bianco 2018 from sicily, italy this wine is made from grapes of carricante, the most typical autoctonous white variety of the etna volcano. We offer books, study materials, and other goods through our campus store.
Discover the best wines of sicily when you experience wine tastings and winery tours at benanti. Youll find a perfect example back in taormina at bam bar, where the menu lists 24. Other white blends from sicily, italy benanti serra della contessa etna rosso 2014 front. Since the very beginning in 1988, giuseppe benanti has aspired to demonstrate the high potential of carricante grown in milo. Best wineries to visit in etna, sicily winerist magazine. Benantis success garnered lots of attention and free advice. The white wines of mount etna, made from the grape carricante, are some of italys greatest and most distinct. Some items are downloadable, others must be shipped. Nero davola is king in sicily, but another red grape turning heads. To people who know the fashion houses of milan, the frenetic bustle of rome or the undulating, cypressdotted hills of tuscany, sicily feels. The power of terroir in sicilys volcanic white wines.
Benanti began as the hobby of wine loving giuseppe benanti, now 71, a thirdgeneration catania pharmacist who built a successful international ophthalmological products company. A guided tour of cantina benantis monte serra estate and vineyard, one of the best wineries in sicily, followed by a cooking display and wine tasting. Up until the 1980s, most of the wine made in the etna region was cheap, red and sold in bulk. The power of terroir in sicilys volcanic white wines the new. The legendary italian enologist giacomo tachis counseled him to plant pinot noir everywhere. Jul 20, 2016 sicily is a land for red, not for white, mr. From the beginnings up to the new course inaugurated with the generational change, we asked salvino to retrace the history of a reality that has contributed significantly to the winemaking rebirth of etna, becoming a reference point for the whole territory. The magical wines of sicilys mount etna independent. Jun 05, 2020 if you visit the benanti vineyards in viagrande, sicily, the first part of the wine tasting occurs at a wooden table set in the middle of the vineyards.
The 2009 benanti il musico bianco passito sicilia 50cl is a sweet wine made by benanti from the region of sicily based on moscato bianco of 2009. He saw sicily, and mount etna in particular, as not living up to their viticultural potential. In 1988, giuseppe benanti revived the familys old passion, with an extensive and selective study of the etnean soils highly devoted to. Dry, mineral with pleasant acidity, saline notes and a long fin. The mostly benanti, rovittello, etna, sicily 2014 decanter. In fact, the hard work and excellent wines produced at this historic winery are what catapulted this unknown part of sicily to the enological forefront. Contrade selection wines that respect the specific inclinations of each slope. The benanti family are arguably the bravest winemakers alive in italy today. Sep 23, 2020 benanti started the dinner with the crisp etna bianco 2016. Benanti winery viagrande all you need to know before. Benantis pietramarina is one of italys most celebrated white wines. In the 1990s we knew it was imperative to produce wines linked to specific areas on each of etnas four slopes.
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