Nerello Mascalese Micina Terre Siciliane IGP 2023

This Micina cuvée is made by Cantina Cellaro, a cooperative founded in 1969 in Sambuca di Sicilia, in the province of Agrigento, in south-western Sicily. The vineyards spread across hills covered in Mediterranean scrub, around Lake Arancio, in a climate shaped by the hot sirocco and sea breezes. More than six hundred member growers farm a mosaic of soils and microclimates here. Nerello Mascalese, a native Sicilian grape variety best known on Etna, finds a sunnier, more indulgent expression here.

After the harvest, the grapes are gently pressed to avoid extracting green tannins. Maceration takes place at controlled temperature for about ten to twelve days, with regular pump-overs in stainless-steel tanks. Once malolactic fermentation is complete, the wine is transferred to French and American oak barrels, where it rests for a few months. This short time in oak rounds out the texture and adds a spicy touch, while preserving the bright fruit characteristic of the variety.

This wine reveals notes of cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, prune, black pepper, clove, eucalyptus and vanilla. The intense ruby colour opens onto a nose marked by red fruit and spice, lifted by a pleasant balsamic hint. The palate is supple and balanced, carried by tannins of medium persistence and a spicy flavour. The finish lingers on prune.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!