I’ve known about zibibbo wine, which is a Marsala-like, dark wine I’ve drank in local trattorie and bars in Palermo, but last night at a special dinner hosted by Italy’s Best Foods importer Gustiamo, I had some of this zibibbo syrup, or what they call an elixir, in my welcome aperitivo. Oh my, my tastebuds took a spin! This stuff was excellent. It’s made from a unique variety of grapes grown under very specific circumstances on Pantelleria island. So unique, that UNESCO just recently recognized the cultivation techniques for a new agricultural category they’ve established. This zibibbo elixir has a sweet taste with a slightly tart overtone. Not just for cocktails, a creative gourmand could use this on or in many different dishes.
