Like Catarratto, it is found across Sicily, particulary in Agrigento and Palermo, and is used in many of the island’s DOC blends. Again, most traditionally used as an ingredient in Marsala wines, it is now also increasingly turned into a crisp, white nutty, citrussy white with herbal notes. The other key Sicilan white wine grape is Insolia, often also spelled as Inzolia. Light, easy-drinking and good value for money, it can now compete with the northern Pinot Grigio, Gavi and Soave in this regard. Quality of Grillo wines have also improved greatly with the introduction of more modern viticultural and wine-making techniques and Grillo is now also in the running for the title of quintessential dry, Italian white wine. Sicily’s hot dry climate is well-suited to Grillo and the ease with which it generates sugar and oxidises made it ideal for the production of Marsala, but it was ousted in favour of the higher yielding Catarratto. As a varietal, Grillo makes a fresh, light, fruit-driven nutty wine with flavours of apple and lemon. With the wane of interest in fortified wine, Grillo is now often vinified as a dry varietal wine or in a blend. Grillo is the variety most famous for its contribution to Sicily’s famous fortified wine, Marsala. Carricante is a perfect match for grilled fish with lemon. Weightier versions may have honeyed notes and a creamy character from lees contact. The best examples display an underlying slatey, mineral character. It offers a broad range of refreshing citrus aromas and herbal notes, such as mint. Its name means ‘breast’ in the local dialect, thus gaining its name from the shape of its grapes.Ĭarricante is the most typical and widespread white Etna grape and is known for its high acidity. Minella Bianca is a rare white Sicilian grape, indigenous to and cultivated on the slopes of Mount Etna. In Etna DOC it is blended with Carricante and Minella Bianca. Overproduction of this variety in recent years made it a key contributor to the country’s wine lake however, it can produce attractive full-bodied wines with lemon notes. Plenty of international varieties, such as Chardonnay, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc, are also planted and may be used in blends or produced as varietal wines.Ĭatarratto is the island’s most widely planted white variety and has two different phenotypes, Catarratto Bianco Lucido and Catarratto Bianco Comune, which may be differentiated by the white bloom on their grapes the Lucido phenotype has less and thus the grapes are more glossy, or lucido, hence its name. Sicily is home to Catarrato, Grillo, Insolia (aka Ansonica in Tuscany), Carricante and the rare Minella variety. Dry Sicilian white wine comes in many shapes and forms, produced both from local and international varieties.

Name a dry white wine