Decent Sicilian Whites

Dear Munged from Monceaux

I think Sicily is much better for its reds, I hate to say this as I absolutely love Sicily, but I find most sicilian whites well made and a little too clean, nothing interesting about them, your average italian boring white in the international style.

Benanti makes a Grecanico, I think, that stood out from the lot.

Restaurant wine lists are dominated by Planeta, Donnafugata, Tasca d'Almerita, Duca di Salaparuta (I have heard good things of their Bianca di Valguarnera but not tasted it). As a result, interesting producers may be hard to find.

I would look for reds by Benanti, Nero d'Avola Contrade Labirinto by COS. The Custera by Ceuso. Nerojbleo by Gulfi.

Ian,

not from the grape you mention, but Benanti Pietramarina is a very interesting wine made from Carricante. Loved by the Press, etc.

From the same grape, Benanti also makes a white called Bianco di Caselle, which is lighter, cheaper and easier to understand.

Valle dell'Acate Zagra has also quite some personality, made from Insolia and Grillo in a very different part of the island.

All the best,

s.

santiago ha scritto:

Pietramarina is among the best italian withes, non only sicilian. Also Caricanti from Gulfi is very good. Moreover Sicily is full of oaked-californian style chardonnay. Try Planeta or Donnafugata as examples. Some good withes can be found also among dessert wines. Donnafugata BenRye should be easy to find. ...and also some good Marsala are not that bad. Luk

Luk, thank you so much for your reply. Thanks also VERY much to Santiago and Mike (not necessarily in that order). I've forwarded your replies, and I'm sure she'll find your ideas and suggestions very useful.

You know, it's exchanges like this, that made me see red when I saw that trollish nonsense from zara. I apologise to all forbeing so silly as to dignifying him/her with areply.

In the words of I Ching, "No blame, no regret". You simply beat me to it.

BTW, in case I haven't mentioned it already - it sure is good to have you back.

Cheers

Nils

I have to chime in her and agree with Mike. While there, we had many very interesting and mostly very affordable reds, but I had no whites that I found to be the least bit interesting. Pleasant enough for the table and inoffensive but I would not go out of my way to find them and we tried about a dozen different varieties.

You're very generous

You did, and i was embarrassed and grateful - so I made no reply iirc. =========To Lawrence and cwd,

Thanks very much to you too.

To everyone.

I've been asked by Gill to pass on her heartfelt thanks. She's printed out your various comments and they are safely packed away in her suitcase already, so they don't get left behind in the last minute rush to finalise preparations.

She's what might be called an inexperienced by fairly enthusiastic amateur who's asked for my help on a number of occasions, and - more by luck than good judgement - I've been able to help, so she asked again. This time, you were able to save me from the embarrassement of letting her down!!

ATB Ian

Got under your thin skin? Did you toss and turn these last few nights? What did Zara say to you to put your panties in such a bind?

It is probably redundant to make this warning, but just in case it isn't, one should know that zara loves sock puppets.