The Feast of Saint Martin is approaching. Saint Martin is the patron saint of vintners, soldiers, the poor, wool-weavers, geese, and the country France. For vintners, November 11 marks the first tasting of the new wine, known as “novello.” Wine making is a long process that starts with the pruning and caring for the vines…
Tag: grapes
Wine Making: Old and New
The old-fashioned way (using foot stomping and a wicker wheel), on the left, and the modern way (stainless steel equipment), on the right, to macerate wine grapes.
Grape Spotting
Depending on the region of the island (Sicily has many microclimates.), the grape harvest has started. These Nerello Mascalese grapes, indigenous to Etna, are not yet ready, but the wine maker is measuring the grapes’ vitals every day to strike when the moment is right.
Sip and Savor
Slowly savor Sicilian wines during your first evening in Sicily with a wine tasting and dinner pairing … Experience it on September 23 … Contact me at AllisonScola@ExperienceSicily.com for the full, 8-day, small-group, multi-sensory tour itinerary.
The Grapes of Sicilian Wine
The terraces and stone walls of Randazzo on Mount Etna’s north face make for a special environment to grow grapes from ancient vines. Grape varieties such as Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccino grow about a half a mile above sea level, where the salty sea winds meet fresh, crisp mountain air that converges with volcanic,…
Sicily Surprise
This was the package for my recent U.S. supermarket purchase of grapes from California. Sicily calls to me wherever I am!
The Stakes are High
Vines (These are special because they stand singularly apart from other vines.) photographed on the slope of Mount Etna in Randazzo. Cheers!
September Means Grape Harvest
It’s September, and that means that depending on where they are, the grapes will be ready to be harvested for wine-making. Over the next few weeks, purveyors at Sicily’s finest vineyards will be working around the clock to capture the sun, earth, air, rain, and all of the flavors that have fueled the growth of…
In Sicily, Yellow and Blue Makes Wine
In the western provinces of Sicily, the Grillo grape varietal soaks up the sun to make Marsala wine.