Region: Sicilia
History: Upgraded from IGT to DOC in 2011
Principal White Grape Varieties: Ansonica, Carricante, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Damaschino, Fiano, Grecanico Dorato, Grillo, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, Viognier, Zibibbo
Principal Red Grape Varieties: Alicante, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignano, Frappato, Merlot, Mondeuse, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Nocera, Perricone, Petit Verdot, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese, Syrah
Styles and Wine Composition:
WHITE WINES
- Bianco (Wh): Minimum 50% Ansonica (locally Inzolia), Catarratto, Grecanico Dorato, and/or Grillo + OAWG
- Carricante (Wh): Minimum 85% Carricante + OAWG
- Catarratto (Wh): Minimum 85% Catarratto + OAWG
- Chardonnay (Wh): Minimum 85% Chardonnay + OAWG
- Damaschino (Wh): Minimum 85% Damaschino + OAWG
- Fiano (Wh): Minimum 85% Fiano + OAWG
- Grecanico (Wh): Minimum 85% Grecanico Dorato + OAWG
- Grillo (Wh): Minimum 85% Grillo + OAWG
- Inzolia (Wh): Minimum 85% Ansonica + OAWG
- Moscato Bianco (Wh): Minimum 85% Moscato Bianco + OAWG
- Müller-Thurgau (Wh): Minimum 85% Müller-Thurgau + OAWG
- Pinot Grigio (Wh): Minimum 85% Pinot Grigio + OAWG
- Sauvignon (Wh): Minimum 85% Sauvignon Blanc + OAWG
- Vermentino (Wh): Minimum 85% Vermentino + OAWG
- Viognier (Wh): Minimum 85% Viognier + OAWG
- Zibibbo (Wh): Minimum 85% Zibibbo + OAWG
- Dual varietals (Wh): Many combinations of two of the above varieties are permitted, with a minimum of 50% of the first-named variety
- Superiore (Bianco, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Grecanico Dorato, Grillo, or Inzolia)
- Riserva (Bianco, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Fiano, Grecanico Dorato, Grillo, Inzolia, Sauvignon, or Viognier)
ROSATO WINES
- Rosato (Ro): Minimum 50% Frappato, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (aka Calabrese), and/or Perricone + OARG
- Rosato Varietals (Ro): Minimum 85% Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Frappato, Merlot, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola, Perricone, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese, or Syrah + OARG
RED WINES
- Rosso (Rd): Minimum 50% Frappato, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola, and/or Perricone + OARG
- Alicante (Rd): Minimum 85% Alicante + OARG
- Cabernet Franc (Rd): Minimum 85% Cabernet Franc + OARG
- Cabernet Sauvignon (Rd): Minimum 85% Cabernet Sauvignon + OARG
- Carignano (Rd): Minimum 85% Carignano + OARG
- Frappato (Rd): Minimum 85% Frappato + OARG
- Merlot (Rd): Minimum 85% Merlot + OARG
- Mondeuse (Rd): Minimum 85% Mondeuse + OARG
- Nerello Cappuccio (Rd): Minimum 85% Nerello Cappuccio + OARG
- Nerello Mascalese (Rd): Minimum 85% Nerello Mascalese + OARG
- Nero d’Avola (Rd): Minimum 85% Nero d’Avola + OARG
- Nocera (Rd): Minimum 85% Nocera + OARG
- Perricone (Rd): Minimum 85% Perricone + OARG
- Petit Verdot (Rd): Minimum 85% Petit Verdot + OARG
- Pinot Nero (Rd): Minimum 85% Pinot Nero + OARG
- Sangiovese (Rd): Minimum 85% Sangiovese + OARG
- Syrah (Rd): Minimum 85% Syrah + OARG
- Dual varietals (Rd): Many combinations of two of the above varieties are permitted, with a minimum of 50% of the first-named variety
- Riserva (Rosso, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nero d’Avola, Petit Verdot, Pinot Nero, Syrah)
SPARKLING WINES
- Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 50% Ansonica, Carricante, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Grecanico Dorato, Grillo, Moscato Bianco, Nerello Mascalese (vinified as a white wine), Pinot Nero (vinified as a white wine), and/or Zibibbo + OAG
- Drier Spumante Varietals (WhSp): Minimum 85% Carricante, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Grecanico Dorato, Grillo, or Pinot Grigio + OAWG
- Sweet Spumante Varietals (WhSpSw): Minimum 85% Moscato Bianco or Zibibbo + OAWG
- Spumante Rosato (RoSp): Minimum 50% Frappato, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola, and/or Pinot Nero + OARG
- Spumante Rosato Varietals (RoSp): Minimum 85% Frappato, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola, or Pinot Nero + OARG
DESSERT AND SPECIALTY WINES
- Vendemmia Tardiva Bianco (Wh, WhSw): Same as Bianco, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Grecanico, Grillo, Inzolia, or Moscato Bianco (WhSw only)
- Vendemmia Tardiva Rosso (Rd, RdSw): Same as Rosso, Nero d’Avola, Perricone, or Syrah
- Passito Bianco (Wh, WhSw): Same as Bianco, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Grillo, or Moscato Bianco (WhSw only)
- Passito Rosso (Rd, RdSw): Same as Rosso, Nero d’Avola, or Syrah
Significant Production Rules:
- Spumante wines may undergo second fermentation either in bottles or in autoclaves
- Minimum alcohol level: 0% for Zibibbo Spumante (10.5% potential); 6.0% for Moscato Bianco Spumante (11.0% potential); 11.0% for Vendemmia Tardiva (13.0% potential); 11.0% for white Passito (potential: 14.0% for varietals, 16.0% for Bianco); 11.5% for Bianco, most white varietals (except Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon), and tank-method Spumante (except Moscato Bianco and Zibibbo) and Spumante Rosato; 12.0% for Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, all Superiore wines, Rosato, rosato varietals, Rosso, red varietals, and metodo classico Spumante and Spumante Rosato; 12.0% for red Passito (potential: 17.0% for Rosso, 18.0% for varietals); 12.5% for all white riservas and Rosso riserva; 13.0% for red varietal riservas
- Residual sugar: Most sparkling wines can range from brut nature (zero dosage) to extra dry; Moscato Bianco and Zibibbo are dolce only
- Aging: No minimum aging is specified in the latest disciplinare, but this is probably an oversight that will be corrected later. Rosso riserva was formerly required to age for a minimum of 2 years (ERD = November 1, V+2).
