Region: Sicilia
History: Established as a DOC in 1974
Principal White Grape Varieties: Moscato
Principal Red Grape Varieties: Nero d’Avola (Calabrese)
Styles and Wine Composition:
WHITE WINES
- Moscato (Wh, WhSw): 100% Moscato Bianco
RED WINES
- Rosso (Rd): Minimum 65% Nero d’Avola (aka Calabrese) + OANRG
- Nero d’Avola (Rd): Minimum 85% Nero d’Avola + OANRG
SPARKLING WINES
- Spumante (WhSpSw): 100% Moscato Bianco
DESSERT AND SPECIALTY WINES
- Passito (WhSw): 100% Moscato Bianco
- Liquoroso (WhFoSw): 100% Moscato Bianco
Significant Production Rules:
- Spumante can have a pressure of as little as 4 atmospheres
- Minimum alcohol level: 8.0% for Spumante (13.0% potential); 9.5% for Moscato (11.5% potential); 9.5% for Passito (18.0% potential); 12.5% for Rosso; 13.0% for Nero d’Avola; 15.0% for Liquoroso (21.0% potential)
- Residual sugar: Minimum 50 g/l (5.0%) for Spumante
- Aging: For Liquoroso, minimum 5 months from date of fortification (ERD approx. May 1, V+1)
