GREAT WINES FROM SICILY

Sicily is not only the largest island in the Mediterranean, but also one of the most important Italian wine-growing regions. Vine cultivation and winemaking were imported into eastern Sicily by the Greeks, with the characteristic breeding known as "alberello", while in the western part they were introduced by the Phoenicians. In Sicily we find numerous vines both native and international. Among the reds stands the Nero d'Avola, cultivated throughout the region, the nerello mascalese, a native of Etna, the nocera, which becomes part of the name Mamertino, and the perricone. The best known among the white grape varieties are the following: the cricket, the catarratto, which can be found throughout the region, the carricante, the main grape of Etna viticulture, the zibibbo, used above all for passito wines, and malvasia. Interesting that the most famous wine, Marsala, was invented in 1773, by the English John Woodhouse of Liverpool. He brought Marsala to England, where he was so successful that even Nelson requested to supply wine to all the fleets stationed in the Mediterranean. There are numerous interesting wineries including: Arianna Occhipinti, Frank Cornelissen, Longarico, Elios, Nino Barraco, Fabio Ferracane, Sergio Drago, Badaluco, Anna Martens, Francesca Barraco, Abbazzia San Giorgio, Tanca Nica, De Bartoli