 South and Islands Regions Sicily Sardinia Calabria Puglia/Apulia Campania
South and Islands Wineries
Alvis Rallo Designed and maintained by FLB Enterprises  |
Italy
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South and Islands Regions Sicily Sardinia Calabria Puglia/Apulia Campania
South and Islands Wineries
Alvis Rallo Designed and maintained by FLB Enterprises |
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SICILY Regional Capital: Palermo. Provinces: Agrigento. Caltanissetta. Catania. Enna. Messina, Palermo, Ragusa. Siracusa, Trapani. Sicily is Italy's largest region (25,708 square kilometres) and ranks 4th in population (5,084.000). Vineyards cover 164.500 hectares (Ist) of which registered DOC plots total 21,000 ha (5th). Annual wine production of 11.100,000 hectolitres (2nd to Apulia) includes 2.5% or 277,000 hectolitres of which more than 95% is white.
WINESDOC AREA OTHER WINES OF NOTE:1 ALCAMO or BIANCO D'ALCAMO W-Dr 2 CERASUOLO DI VITTORIA R-Dr 3 ETNA R-P-W-Dr 4 FARO R-Dr.Ag-I 5 MALVASIA DELLE LIPARI W-Sw. also Ft 6 MARSALA W-also R/Dr/Sw-Ft (Fine Ag-l; Superiore Ag-2, Rs Ag-4. Vergine or Soleras Ag-5. Rs or Stravecchio Ag-1O) 7 MOSCATO DI NOTO W-Sw. also Sp, Ft 8 MOSCATO DI PANTELLERIA Naturale W-Sw. also Sp. Ft; Passito W-Sw, also Ft; Passito Extra W-Sw. also Ft, Ag-l 9 MOSCATO DI SIRACUSA W-Sw- Ft RED-DRY Cellaro WHITE-DRY Bianca di Valguarnera OTHERS Conti d'Almerita Brut; W-Dr-Sp; HISTORYContrasts are not the least of those things in which Sicily abounds. So perhaps it is not surprising that this ancient island boasts one of Italy's most modern wine industries or that a region noted chiefly in the past for strong and often sweet amber Marsala and Moscato has rapidly switched the emphasis toward lighter, dryer wines - whites and reds.Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has more vineyards for wine than any other region. Production in recent years has reached awesome levels - frequently the greatest in volume among the regions. The westernmost province of Trapani alone turns out more wine than the entire regions of Tuscany or Piedmont or such wine nations as Hungary, Austria or Chile. But the proportion of DOC wine in Sicily's total is a mere 2.5% and a major share of that is Marsala, which with some 22 million litres a year ranks among Italy's top ten DOCs in volume. Marsala, which was devised by English merchant traders nearly two centuries ago, has remained Sicily's proudest wine despite decades of degradation when it was flavoured with various syrups and sweeteners. Recently it has enjoyed a comeback with connoisseurs, who favour the dry Marsala Vergine and Superiore Riserva with their warmly complex flavours that rank them with the finest fortified wines of Europe. The only other DOC wine made in significant quantity in Sicily (about 2.5 million litres a year) is the pale white, bone dry Bianco d'Alcamo. Moscato di Pantelleria, from the remote isle off the coast of Tunisia, is among the richest and most esteemed of Italian sweet wines in the Naturale and Passito Extra versions. Malvasia delle Lipari, from the volcanic Aeolian isles, is a dessert wine as exquisite as it is rare. The dry white and red wines of Etna, whose vines are draped over the lower slopes of the volcano, can show notable class, as can the pale red but potent Cerasuolo di Vittoria. Production of the other DOCs - the dry, red. Faro and the sweet Moscatos of Note and Siracusa - has been virtually non-existent in recent times. By contrast, a number of unclassified vini da tavola are thriving. Increasingly prominent are the pale, faintly scented, delicately fruity whites which derive largely from native grapes such as Inzolia, Catarratto, Grecanico and Verdello. Such outsiders as Sauvignon and Chardonnay have also proved promising. Certain reds have achieved prominence, too, mainly those from such admired native varieties as Nero d'Avola (or Calabrese) and Nerello Mascalese and Perricone (or Pignatello). The most admired brands in Sicilian tables wines - Corvo-Duca di Salaparuta and Regaleali - do not qualify. under any DOC. Yet Corvo's consistent quality in dry whites and reds from grapes selected throughout the island has made them prize winners at home and abroad. Regaleali from the Tasca d'Almerita family estate high in the island's central hills, has been producing white, rosé and reds that have won international acclaim. The Region of Sicily distinguishes wines of consistent quality - whether DOC or not - with a Q, which appears on labels as a seal of approval. Sicilian wine has not enjoyed universal success, however. In an era of dwindling consumption world- wide, much of the island's production is either shipped away as blending wine or designated for distillation into industrial alcohol. The region's wine production - four-fifths of which is centred --
co-operatives - has been gradually reduced as new emphasis has been given to
premium quality. New methods of viticulture in the sunny, temperate hills are
helping to realise wines of real character and individuality. Sicily has taken
the lead in winemaking in the modern south as producers seem increasingly
determined to live up to the promise that was so well known to the ancient
Greeks.
UP SARDINIA Regional Capital: Cagliari. Provinces: Cagliari. Nuoro. Oristano, Sassari. SARDINIA ranks 3rd in size among the regions (24.090 square kilometres) and 12th in population (1.638.000). Vineyards cover 65,900 hectares (7th) of which registered DOC plots total 7.400 hectares (13th). Annual wine production of 2,185.000 hectolitres (Ilth) includes 2.5% or 104,000 hectolitres DOC (14th), of which about 65% is white.
WINESDOC AREAS OTHER WINES OF NOTE 1 ARBOREA 2 types: Sangiovese R- P-Dr: Trebbiano W-Dr, also Sw, Fz.2 CAMPIDANO DI TERRALBA R-Dr 3 CANNONAU DISARDEGNA R-Dr, also Sw, Ag-l, Rs Ag-3; Rosato P- Dr; Superiore Naturale R-Dr, also Sw, Ag-2; Liquoroso Dolce Naturale R-Ft-Sw or Secco R-Ft-Dr Ag-l 4 CARIGNANO DEL SULCIS R- DrRsAg-2. also P-Dr 5 GIRO DI CAGLIARI Dolce Naturale R-Sw; Secco R-Dr; Liquoroso R-Ft- Sw/Dr Rs Ag-2 6 MALVASIA DI BOSA W-Dr/Sw, also Liquoroso W-Ft-Dr/Sw Ag-2 7 MALVASIA DI CAGLIARI W- Dr/Sw, also Liquoroso W-Ft-Dr/Sw, Rs Ag-2 8 MANDROLISAI R-P-Dr.SupAg-2 9 MONICA DI CAGLIARI R-Sw/Dr, also Liquoroso R-Ft-Sw/Dr, Rs Ag-2 10 MONICA DI SARDEGNA R- Dr,SupAg-l 11 MOSCATO DI CAGLIARI W-Sw also Liquoroso W-Sw-Ft, Rs Ag-l 12 MOSCATO DI SARDEGNA W- Sw-Sp 13 MOSCATO DI SORSO-SENNORI W-Sw, also Ft 14 NASCO DI CAGLIARI W-Sw/Dr, also Liquoroso W-Sw-Ft, Rs Ag-2 15 NURAGUS DI CAGLIARI W-Dr, also Sw.Fz 16 VERMENTINO DI GALLURA W- Dr, also Sup 17 VERMENTINO DI SARDEGNA W-Dr, also Sw, Sp 18 VERNACCIA DI ORISTANO W- Dr, also Liquoroso W-Ft-Dr/Sw, Ag-2. Sup Ag-3, Rs Ag-4 RED-DRY Abbaia WHITE-DRY Aragosta OTHERS Anghelu Ruju R-Ft-Sw HISTORYIsolation in mid-Mediterranean has made Sardinia the most idiosyncratic of Italian regions. Its history as been influenced as much by foreigners - Spaniards in particular - as by other Italians.The island's vines tell a story of their own, frequently with a Spanish accent. The Mediterranean stalwarts are there in the various clones of Muscat and Malvasia, but several other varieties are practically unique in Italy, such as Giro, Cannonau, Nuragus, Monica, Torbato and Vernaccia di Oristano. Sardinia's major vineyard area is the Campidano, the fertile plains and low, rolling hills north-west of the capital and major port of Cagliari. The varieties grown there - Ciro, Malvasia, Monica, Moscato, Nasco and Nuragus - carry the name of Cagliari in their denominations. The north-western coastal area around Sassari and Alghero and the wooded slopes of the Gallura peninsula in the north-east are noted for quality whites. Vermentino dominates the dry wines, though the non-DOC Torbato can be every bit as distinguished. Moscato is notable from Sorso and Sennori and Tempio Pausania. Vineyards in the rugged eastern coastal range around Nuoro are noted for the rich, red Cannonau. Much of Sardinia's production is carried out by co-operatives. Among DOC wines, whites predominate by nearly two to one over reds. The most popular white variety is Nuragus, which is believed to have been brought there by the Phoenicians. Its name derives from the island's prehistoric stone towers known as nuraghe. Nuragus is the source of a modern dry white, clean and crisp if rather neutral in flavour. Vermentino, a variety also planted in Liguria and parts of Tuscany, makes a white of distinct style in Sardinia, notably in the Gallura zone, though it can now be produced throughout the region as a light, often fizzy DOC wine. The island's two important red varieties are Cannonau, a relative of the Granacha brought from Spain, and Monica, also of Spanish origin. Both can be dry or sweet, though trends favour the dry type toned down in strength from the traditionally heroic proportions. Cannonau of note comes from the towns of Oliena, Jerzu and Dorgali and the coastal hills of Capo Ferrato. It makes a fine sweet wine, which can be reminiscent of Port, as in the rich Anghelu Ruju. Carignano del Sulcis, from the Southwest, is also of Spanish origin. A curiosity among the reds is the moderately sweet Giro di Cagliari. Moscato can be either still or sparkling. Malvasia may be sweet, but is perhaps most impressive dry from the west coast town of Bosa and the Planargia hills. The most distinctive of Sardinian wines is Vernaccia di Oristano. From a vine of uncertain origin grown in the flat, sandy Tirso river basin around Oristano, it becomes a Sherry-like amber wine with a rich array of nuances in "bouquet and flavour. UP CALABRIA Regional capital: Catanzaro. Provinces: Catanzaro, Cosenza, Reggio Calabria ranks 10th among the regions in size (15.080 square kilometres) and population (2.130.000). Vineyards cover 31.600 hectares (10th) of which, registered DOC plots total 3,400 hectares (15th). Annual wine production of 1.100.000 hectolitres (14th) includes 3.6% or 40.000 hectolitres DOC (15th), of which about 90% is red.
WINESDOC AREAS OTHER WINES OF NOTECIRO R-P-W-Dr,Rs(R)Ag-3 RED-DRY Lacrima di Castrovillari, also P Pellaro OTHERS Cerasuolo di Scilla. P-Dr; Greco di Gerace. W-Sw;
HISTORYThe toe of the Italian boot, Calabria is an overwhelmingly mountainous region with marked variations in microclimates between the warm coastal zones of the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas and the chilly heights of the Sila and Aspromonte massifs.Two grape varieties of Greek origin dominate - Gaglioppo in red wines, Greco in whites - though the types of wine they make can vary markedly from one place to another. Modern Oenotria's best-know wine is Ciro, which grows in low hills along the Ionian coast between the ancient Greek cities of Sybaris and Kroton (Sibari and Crotone today). Local legend has it that Ciro descended directly from Krimisa, the wine Calabrian athletes drank to celebrate victories in an early Olympiad. Lately Ciro, has taken on contemporary touches as new methods of vine training and temperature- controlled wine-making have diminished the alcoholic strength (as well as the propensity to oxidise), making the wine rounder, fuller in fruit and fresher in bouquet. The classic Ciro, is the rosso, which in the riserva version has the capacity to age beyond a decade from certain vintages. There is also a rosato to drink young and a bianco, from Greco grapes, that can show impressively youthful freshness. Melissa, an adjacent DOC zone, has red and white wines similar to Ciro, in content and style. But red wines from the same Gaglioppo grown at higher altitudes - Pollino, Donnici and Savuto, for example - are lighter in body and colour, sometimes with fresh scents and flavours reminiscent of Alpine reds. Among the whites, the rare Greco di Bianco stands out as one of the nation s
finest sweet wines. From a local variety of Greco grown near the Ionian coast at
the town of Bianco, it has a rich, velvety texture and an intriguing citrus-like
bouquet. The nearly identical Greco di Gerace is a non-DOC wine that carries the
ancient place "name. From the same place comes Mantonico di Bianco a Sherry-
like amber wine with hints of almond and citrus in bouquet and flavour.
UP BASILICATA Regional capital: Potenza Provinces: Matera, Potenza.; Basilicata ranks 14th in size among the regions (9.992 square kilometres) and 18th in population (619,000). Vineyards cover 16.300 hectares (16th) of which registered DOC plots total 1,470 hectares (17th). Annual wine production of 400,000 hectolitres (18th) includes 1.6% or 6.500 hectolitre's DOC (18th). entirely red.
WINEDOC AREA1 AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE R-Dr, also Sw. Sp, Ag-l, Vecchio Ag-3. Rs Ag-5 OTHER WINES OF NOTE RED-DRY Aglianico dei Colli Lucani or Matera. also Sw.
Sp WHITE-DRY Asprino or Asprinio, Fz OTHERS Malvasia del Vulture, W-Sw/Dr-Sp
HISTORYBasilicata, also known as Lucania, is an often neglected region of arid hills and desolate mountains that can be bitterly cold for a southerly place. But the cool upland climate has its advantages for viticulture, in wines that can show enviable aromas and flavours. Basilicata has only one DOC in Aglianico del Vulture, but that, at least, gives the inhabitants a source of pride. One of southern Italy's finest red wines, it is gradually gaining admirers elsewhere.The Aglianico vine - which is also the base of Campania's vaunted Taurasi - was brought to Basilicata by the Greeks, perhaps as long ago as the 6th or 7th century BC. (Its name is a corruption of Hellenico). On the slopes of the extinct volcano known as Monte Vulture it makes a robust, deeply coloured wine that from fine vintages can improve for many years, becoming increasingly refined and complex in flavour. There are also youthful versions of the wine, sometimes semi-sweet and even sparkling, but the dry vecchio or riserva, after ageing in oak casks, rate the most serious consideration. Aglianico is also used for vini da tavola in other parts of the region,
notably in the east around Matera, where reds from Sangiovese and Montepulciano
also originate. White wines of interest are the sweet Moscato and Malvasia, the
best of which come from the Vulture zone and the eastern Bradano valley.
UP PUGLIA / APULIA Regional capital: Bari. Provinces: Bari, Brindisi. Foggia, Lecce. Taranto. Apulia ranks 7th among the regions in size (19,347 square kilometres) and population (4,005.000). Vineyards cover 132.000 hectares (2nd) of which registered DOC plots total \ 17,600 hectares (6th). Annual wine production of 11.250.000 hectolitres (Ist) includes 1.6% or 180.000 hectolitres DOC (12th), which takes in slightly more white than red and rose
WINESDOC AREAS OTHER WINES OF NOTE1 ALEATICO DI PUGLIA R-Sw-Ft, Rs Ag-3 RED-DRY Cabernet di Puglia WHITE-DRY Bolina OTHERS Five Roses, P-Dr
HISTORYApulia, the heel of the Italian boot, is a long, relatively level region with a prolific production of both wine and table grapes. Its output of wine has surpassed Sicily's in most recent years as the most voluminous among the regions, a production that regularly surpasses that of Germany and all but six other nations. The title of "Europe's wine cellar" no longer carries much distinction. As markets for blending wines diminished, producers have tried to put the accent on premium wines.Recently they have come forth with some good to excellent bottlings of dry, balanced reds, whites and rosé from a range of grape varieties, both native and foreign. Apulia has 24 DOCs, by far the most of any southern region, yet, like its neighbours, it produces only a slight percentage of classified wine (1.6%). The region's remoteness and lack of clear-cut reputation for quality have inhibited commerce of wines in bottle. Apulia can be divided roughly into two viticultural sectors by a hypothetical line crossing the region between Brindisi and Taranto. To the north the terrain is rolling to hilly and the climate is temperate, even cool at certain heights in the Murge plateau. Dry wines from there tend to have moderate strength, with impressive fruit, good acidity and ample aroma. Red wines generally derive from the native Uva di Troia or Bombino Nero, as well as Montepulciano and Sangiovese. White wines are dominated by the Verdeca variety, though Bianco d'Alessano, Malvasia, Trebbiano and Bombino Bianco are also evident. The leading DOC zone of northern Apulia is Castel del Monte, the one appellation that enjoys recognition abroad. It has a fine rosé and a full-bodied red that can be good young but often gains stature with age. In much of the north the emphasis is on red wines under such DOCs as Rosso Canosa, Rosso Barletta and Rosso di Cerignola. Just north of the Brindisi-Taranto line white wines dominate, in particular those of the Itria valley - Locorotondo and Martina Franca. Throughout the region experimentation is Underway with outside varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and sauvignon among the whites; Cabernet, Malbec and Pinot Nero among the reds. South of the Brindisi-Taranto line lies Salento, a flat peninsula that extends toward Albania and Greece as Italy's easternmost point. Though hot, it is not quite torrid, thanks to the play of breezes off the Adriatic and Ionian seas. Salento's traditional wines were the powerful, inky reds from Primitive, Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera, but increasing attention is being given to lighter reds and roses, as well as some surprisingly fresh and fruity whites. Primitive di Manduria, the early ripening grape that had made a favoured
blending wme, Is apparently related to the California's Zinfandel. Differences
in vine training and methods and purposes of winemaking between Salento and
California have resulted in distinct style variations, yet a family resemblance
can be noted in the heavy and somewhat wild aspects of the wines. Among the many
DOCs of Salento, Salice Salentino stands out for its rich red and rose, though
such obscure appellations as Squinzano, Brindisi, Alezio and Copertino can show
unexpected class. Salento's vini da tavola can also be intriguing, under such
individual names as Notarpanaro, Portulano, Cappello di Prete and some roses
that rank with Italy's finest.
UP CAMPANIA Regional capital: Naples (Napoli) Provinces: Avellino, Benevento, Caserta. Napoli. Salerno. Campania ranks 12th among the regions in size (13.595 square kilometres) and 2nd in population (5,650.000). Vineyards cover 46,800 hectares (9th) of which registered DOC plots total 1,550 hectares (16th). Annual wine production of 2.500.000 hectolitres (9th) includes 1% or 25,000 hectolitres DOC (16th). about two-thirds of which is white.
WINESDOC AREAS1 AGLIANICO DEL TABURNO or TABURNO R-Dr Ag-l, Rs Ag-3 RED-DRY Aglianico del Sannio WHITE-DRY Asprinio or Asprino, also
Fz OTHERS Kalimera, W-Sp HISTORYThe ancient Romans considered Campania Fclix to be the non plus ultra of wine regions. They favoured the vineyards along the coast north of Naples where Falernum, the most treasured wine of the empire, was grown. They also lauded the wines of Vesuvius and the hills of Avellino. The Greeks, too, recognised the privileged nature of the place, introducing vines which still stand out today in Aglianico and Greco.Campania's vinicultural fortunes had been declining for decades as growers left the land and a majority of producers ignored DOC. But there have always been exceptions, none more conspicuous than the trio of classified wines - the red Taurasi and the white Fiano diAvellino and Greco di Tufo - all grown in the hills east of Naples. Taurasi, from Aglianico, has been called "the Barolo of the south" due to its size and ability to age, though its style is proudly its own. That red wine was next in line for DOCG. Fiano and Greco are among Italy's most distinguished whites. Credit for their status is due largely to the Mastroberardino winery which has carried these historically significant, but once nearly forgotten, vines to new heights of prestige. The wines of Ischia and Solopaca rate increasing praise, as do the new DOCs
of Falerno del Massico, where the ancient Falernum was grown. Recently the
region's wine authorities have put the emphasis on controlled quality in new
zones designed to revive Campania's historical potential.
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