An Englishman John Woodhouse discovered this fortified Sicilian wine and started producing it on a larger scale in 1796. Because of its instant popularity, the quality of Marsala wines began to deteriorate, but in 1984, stricter regulations of production have been implemented, which eventually had an impact on the better quality of Marsala.
The unique taste of the wine comes from the traditional winemaking method and the use of only Sicilian indigenous grapes, predominately Grillo, but Inzolia, Catarrato, or Damaschino can also be used. The wine comes in three styles: secco (dry), semisecco (semi-dry), and dolce (sweet), while its flavor is typically reminiscent of cherries, apples, dried fruits, as well as soft vanilla, honey, and licorice.
Refined versions of Marsala make excellent dessert wines, but they are also commonly used in the production of desserts or to create rich, caramelized sauces. This complex wine naturally pairs with a wide variety of classic Italian desserts such as cannoli, tiramisù, or amaretti, while some varieties can perfectly complement delicate spring vegetables.
Types of Marsala
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Saltimbocca alla Romana
This dish is one of the most traditional Roman dishes, and it is deeply rooted in regional cuisine. The name of this Italian classic comes from salti in bocca... Read more
Carote al Marsala
Carote al Marsala is a traditional dish originating from Italy. It’s made with a combination of carrots, Marsala, butter, salt, pepper, sugar, and parsley. The carrots ... Read more
Cassatelle
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Pollo alla Marengo
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Serve with
Zabaione
One of Italy’s most spectacular desserts, the luscious zabaione is a velvety custard cream of relatively obscure and mysterious origins. According to one legend,... Read more
Chiacchiere
These Italian carnival pastry fritters are made from dough that is cut into thin, rectangular sheets, which are then twisted into ribbons or kept flat with wavy borders.... Read more
Cannoli
These decadent, crispy fried pastry tubes filled with luscious ricotta cheese cream are perhaps one of Sicily's best known desserts outside of Italy. Cannoli are believed ... Read more
Tiramisù
Even though tiramisù is actually a fairly recent invention, this dessert of coffee-soaked ladyfingers layered with mascarpone cream enjoys an iconic status among ... Read more
