Region: Sicilia
History: Established as a DOC in 2004
Principal White Grape Varieties: Ansonica, Catarratto, Grillo
Principal Red Grape Varieties: Nero d’Avola (Calabrese)
Styles and Wine Composition:
WHITE WINES
- Bianco (Wh): Minimum 45% Catarratto; minimum 35% Ansonica (locally Inzolia) and/or Grillo (minimum 10% each); maximum 20% OAWG
- Ansonica-Grillo or Inzolia-Grillo (Wh): 50–80% Ansonica; 20–50% Grillo
- Grillo-Ansonica or Grillo-Inzolia (Wh): 50–80% Grillo; 20–50% Ansonica
- Riserva (Bianco; Wh, WhSw)
RED WINES
- Rosso (Rd): Minimum 60% Nero d’Avola; minimum 10% Nocera; maximum 30% OARG
- Calabrese or Nero d’Avola (Rd): Minimum 85% Nero d’Avola (aka Calabrese) + OARG
- Riserva (Rosso)
Significant Production Rules:
- Minimum alcohol level: 11.0% for Ansonica-Grillo and Grillo-Ansonica; 11.5% for Bianco; 12.5% for Rosso and Calabrese/Nero d’Avola; 13.0% for Riserva
- Aging: For Riserva, minimum 24 months, including 6 months in barrel (ERD = November 1, V+2)
