Castellucci Miano Shiarà Catarratto 2020

Shiarà comes from Valledolmo, in the Contea di Sclafani appellation, in the heart of Sicily, on the borders of the provinces of Palermo and Caltanissetta. Castellucci Miano brings together small growers here whose vineyards, among the highest on the island after those of Etna, enjoy an inland hill climate marked by wide day-night temperature swings. This high-altitude freshness allows Catarratto, Sicily's historic white grape variety, to retain tension and aromatic finesse.

From an organically farmed vineyard, the Catarratto is vinified as a white wine to preserve the purity of its fruit. The wine is then aged for six months in stainless-steel tanks, without oak, then refined for around four months in bottle before release. This restrained ageing highlights the freshness of the high-altitude terroir and the straightness of the grape variety.

This wine reveals notes of lemon, grapefruit, pineapple, passion fruit, white peach, white flowers, aromatic herbs and almond. Citrus and exotic fruits dominate a luminous bouquet, extended by floral and green touches. The palate, fresh and very well balanced, offers a satisfying frame and fine length, underlined by a slightly saline finish.

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!