Sicilian Alcoholic Beverages

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 regulatio... READ MORE

Nero d’Avola is an indigenous Sicilian red grape, whose name, meaning the black of Avola, refers to its distinctive dark color. For most of the 20th century, Nero d'Avola was used as a blending grape, but in the 1990s winem... READ MORE

Inzolia is an Italian grape variety mainly associated with Sicily, though small amounts are also found in Tuscany (Ansonica Bianca). The grape was best known for its use in Marsala wine, but it is now often blended with the local Catarrat... READ MORE

Marsala Superiore is a premium classification of Marsala wine, aged for a minimum of two years in wooden casks. It has an alcohol content of around 18% ABV and comes in three levels of sweetness: Secco (dry) with up to 40g of residual sugar per li... READ MORE

Nerello Mascalese is a late-ripening native Sicilian grape variety that is mostly cultivated around Mount Etna. One of the few grapes that survived the phylloxera plague—due to the high altitudes where it is grown—Nerello Masc... READ MORE

Catarratto is an ancient and little-known Sicilian white grape. In the past, it was mainly used for unimpressive, bland wines, but some producers have shown that a better approach can result in excellent white wines with a fresh and miner... READ MORE

Grillo is a white grape variety from Sicily best known for its use in Marsala. It is used in several other regional appellations, both in blends and varietals. Grillo is a versatile grape that usually attains high alcohol content. If not ... READ MORE

Marsala Superiore Riserva is a prestigious classification of Marsala wine, aged for a minimum of four years in wooden casks, resulting in a richer, smoother, and more complex profile. With an alcohol content of around 18% ABV, it is available in t... READ MORE

Zibibbo is the local Sicilian name for Muscat of Alexandria grapes. This grape belongs to a large family of Moscato grapes, which are famous for their perfumed aromas and sweet flavors. Muscat of Alexandria is believed to be one of the ol... READ MORE

Marsala Fine is the most accessible and widely used classification of Marsala wine, a fortified wine from Sicily. It must be aged for at least one year in wooden casks and has a minimum alcohol content of 17%. Marsala Fine comes in three color var... READ MORE

Frappato is an Italian wine variety that is mostly associated with Sicily—where it is best known for its use in Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG. Although its ancestry has not been determined, Frappato is one of the oldest grape varieties... READ MORE

Averna is a popular Italian bitter digestif that was named after its inventor Salvatore Averna who created it in 1868. Some sources state that the recipe was handed to the Avernas by a monk of the local San Spirito monastery. The exact in... READ MORE

Terre Siciliane IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) is a wine classification for high-quality wines produced across Sicily, including smaller islands like Pantelleria and the Aeolian Islands. Established in 2011, it offers winemakers greater flexi... READ MORE

Passito di Pantelleria is a dessert wine hailing from Pantelleria, an Italian island located between Sicily and Tunisia. The wine is made with dried (passito) Muscat of Alexandria grapes, locally known as Zibibbo. Passito is a traditional method o... READ MORE

Carricante is a little-known ancient Sicilian grape that is mainly cultivated on the eastern slopes of Mount Etna. It is best known for its use in the Etna Bianco appellation, where it is used in varietals and blends (a minimum of 60%). I... READ MORE

Marsala Vergine is the purest and most refined classification of Marsala wine, aged for a minimum of five years in wooden casks. Unlike other Marsala varieties, Vergine is never sweetened and does not contain mosto cotto (cooked must) or concentra... READ MORE

Cerasuolo di Vittoria is a Sicilian appellation that is currently the only one with a DOCG status. Located in the south of Sicily, the appellation produces red wines with a blend of Nero d’Avola, which mainly provides weight and bod... READ MORE

Marsala Superiore Riserva Rubino is a fortified wine from Sicily, Italy, classified as Superiore Riserva, meaning it has been aged for at least four years in wooden casks. "Rubino," meaning ruby, refers to its deep red color, which comes from the ... READ MORE

This red Sicilian wine is produced with Nerello Mascalese as a principal grape, with the common addition of Nerello Cappuccio and Nocera. The wines produced in the region are typically intense, with dominating notes of ripe red fruit that occasion... READ MORE

The principal grape variety in this light to medium-bodied red Sicilian wine is Nerello Mascalese, which is grown on the volcanic soils of Mount Etna. Ruby red Rosso belongs to the Etna DOC, which also encompasses lively and acidic Bianco wines. F... READ MORE

Perricone is a rare red grape native to western Sicily. The grape is used for varietals and blends, and it is included in several regional appellations, but most varietal examples belong to IGT appellations. Perricone is usually blended w... READ MORE

Mandarinetto is a traditional Sicilian liqueur made with fresh, organic mandarin oranges. It is prepared with freshly peeled mandarin skins macerated in neutral alcohol. The macerate is sweetened and mixed with water to reach the desired ... READ MORE

Belonging to Etna DOC, this white Italian wine is predominantly produced with Carricante grape variety, which is grown on the volcanic soils of Mount Etna. Lively and acidic Etna wine is typically straw yellow, with characteristic floral,... READ MORE

Grappa di Sicilia, also known as Grappa Siciliana, is exclusively reserved for the grape marc spirit produced from grapes grown and vinified in Sicily. It must be distilled and bottled in facilities located within the Sicilian territory. The entir... READ MORE

Marsala Superiore Riserva Oro is a fortified wine from Sicily, Italy, classified as Superiore Riserva, meaning it has been aged for at least four years in wooden casks. "Oro," meaning gold, refers to its golden color, achieved by using white grape... READ MORE

Marsala Superiore Oro is a fortified wine from Sicily, Italy, classified as "Superiore," meaning it has been aged for at least two years in wooden casks. "Oro," meaning gold, refers to its golden color, achieved by using white grape varieties like... READ MORE

Amaranca is an award-winning orange-flavored amaro from Sicily that was inspired by an old family recipe. This artisanal liqueur is flavored with Sicilian wild orange (Citrus aurantium) and a herbal infusion made with various herbs and ro... READ MORE

Sicilian wine region Alcamo initially only produced white wines, which were predominately based on the native Catarratto grapes. The modifications that were introduced in 1999 have set new guidelines, allowing th... READ MORE

Marsala Vergine Stravecchio, also known as Marsala Vergine Riserva, is the highest and most prestigious classification of Marsala wine, aged for a minimum of ten years in wooden casks. It represents the purest and most refined expression of Marsal... READ MORE

Marsala Fine Ambra is a fortified wine from Sicily, Italy, classified as "Fine," meaning it has been aged for at least one year. "Ambra," meaning amber, refers to its rich amber color, which results from the use of white grape varieties like Grill... READ MORE

Marsala Vergine Riserva Rubino is a high-quality, aged dry Marsala wine from Sicily, Italy, classified as "Vergine", meaning it is made using only grape must and alcohol, with no added sweeteners or caramelized must. The "Rubino" (Ruby) designatio... READ MORE

Marsala Superiore Ambra is a fortified wine from Sicily, Italy, classified as "Superiore," meaning it has been aged for at least two years in wooden casks. "Ambra," meaning amber, refers to its rich amber color, which comes from the addition of co... READ MORE

Marsala Vergine Riserva Ambra is a high-quality, aged dry Marsala wine from Sicily, Italy, classified as "Vergine", meaning it is made using only grape must and alcohol, with no added sweeteners or caramelized must. The "Ambra" (Amber) designation... READ MORE

Almond-flavored wine is a Sicilian specialty that usually combines almond essence with white or occasionally red Sicilian wines. Typically, these dessert wines are also infused with herbs, spices, and citrus zest and are usually fortified with spi... READ MORE

Erice DOC is a prestigious wine appellation from the Erice region of Trapani, Sicily, known for its diverse production of white, red, rosé, and sweet wines. It draws on both native Sicilian grape varieties (like Grillo, Catarratto, and Nero... READ MORE

Marsala Superiore Riserva Ambra is a fortified wine from Sicily, Italy, classified as Superiore Riserva, meaning it has been aged for at least four years in wooden casks. "Ambra," meaning amber, refers to its deep amber color, which is achieved by... READ MORE

Marsala Superiore Rubino is a fortified wine from Sicily, Italy, classified as "Superiore," meaning it has been aged for at least two years in wooden casks. "Rubino," meaning ruby, refers to its deep red color, which comes from red grape varieties... READ MORE

Mostly cultivated in Campania, Fiano is an old Italian variety that has seen a significant revival since the 1980s. This low-yielding, early-ripening grape is praised for its ability to produce crisp and aromatic wines with a lot... READ MORE

Marsala Fine Rubino is a type of fortified wine from Sicily, Italy, known for its rich ruby-red color. The term "Fine" indicates that the wine has been aged for at least one year, while "Rubino" refers to its deep ruby hue, achieved by using red g... READ MORE

Marsala Vergine Riserva Oro is a high-quality, aged dry Marsala wine from Sicily, Italy, classified as "Vergine", meaning it is made using only grape must and alcohol, without added sweeteners or cooked must. The "Oro" (Gold) designation refers to... READ MORE

Alcamo is a Sicilian wine region situated in the provinces of Palermo and Trapani. Although the appellation is mostly based on Catarratto-based white wines, red varietals and blends are also produced. These ruby red wines are mostly made from Nero... READ MORE