FENECH Malvasia Delle Lipari Passito 2021

Francesco Fenech (name of Maltese origin) is the owner of a small family estate. The 7ha estate is located on the island of Salina (like most Malvasia producers) and not on the island of Lipari. The denomination retained the name “Lipari” for historical reasons and wars between the bell towers.

The vines grow on sandy soils, of volcanic origin, using organic viticulture. The manual harvest takes place at the end of September and the grapes, in perfect health, are exposed to the sun for 2 weeks. At the end of this concentration process, the grapes undergo cold maceration for 24 hours, in order to extract even more aromas. In order not to alter its purity, the must, once pressed, ferments in stainless steel vats and will be aged for 6 months in oak tuns and stainless steel vats. The nose is floral, complex, with a lot of freshness. On the palate, the whole is tasty, very fruity, with notes of quince compote, apricot marmalade , honey , candied peaches , yellow flowers and exotic fruits . The palate has a very nice acidity, which is surprising for such a southern region. Remarkable acidity/alcohol/residual sugar balance. This wine is entirely built on the subtlety of its aromas and the finesse of its structure. Great persistence in the mouth.

Ah Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, people of the Dolce Vita, but what difficulty in understanding its wine organization! The key to understanding the naming system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous country because each region has its own naming system. Italy can, however, give wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, as well as bottles filled with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless and characterless wines which are sold under their most useful and commercially reputable name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others...



But let's talk a little history, viticulture in Italy dates back to ancient times and it originated in Greece. The Etruscans would have planted vines and Greek immigrants would have improved and modified the grape varieties who subsequently called this country "Oenotria": the country of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life and certain regions already stood out for the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible testimony to their invasion.



Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic areas. The northern mountains experience a fairly harsh mountain climate. The “middle of the boot” plain is the domain of the continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the "southern part of the Italian boot" the Mediterranean climate reigns with very hot and very dry summers without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In summary, Italy produces wines of great variety thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originate from their lands. It is a country just as complex as its wines which deserve to be explored!