Calabria & Sicily
SEPTEMBER 2023
From southernmost Italy, this month's club features a red blend from Sicily's Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG on the southern tip of the island and two wines (a white & a red) from DOC Cirò in Calabria, Italy's toe of the boot. Perfect food wines for the beginning of fall!
2-BOTTLE CLUB
Valle dell’Acate
Valle dell’Acate is an 80-hectare estate of organically cultivated vineyards in southern Sicily near the town of Vittoria. Founded in the 1880's, the 6th generation of the Jacono family runs the estate today, a woman named Gaetana Jacono. Cerasuolo di Vittoria, a red blend of Calabrese (Nero d'Avola) and Frappato, is the only DOCG in Sicily.
Valle dell'Acate 2019 Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG Classico
Sicily, Italy // Reg $31.99 | Mixed Case $25.59
60% Nero d'Avola & 40% Frappato. Aromas of soft spice, earthiness, plums on the nose. Flavors of black cherries, black & red plums. Earthy notes. The acidity is "true Italian". Good now to 3+ years. Enjoy with traditional dishes from Ragusa (pictured below from the winery).
Calabria's Cirò DOC
Cirò, the most well-known region in Calabria, is located on the Ionian coast and enjoys a Mediterranean climate, meaning dry, hot summers and cool, wet winters. The primary production from this area (more than 90%) is a native, red grape called Gaglioppo. The rest is Greco, a white grape. Fun fact, the two wineries featured in this month's club are 8 minutes apart.
Santa Venere 2021 Ciró Bianco
Calabria, Italy // Reg $19.99 | Mixed Case $15.99
100% Greco. Certified organic. Natural fermentation. Stone fruit, loam soils (sandy, minerally) on the nose. Apples, pear, yellow plums, tangerines with some earthy notes. Good acidity, but soft. Well-balanced. Dry finish.
Drink now to 2 years. Enjoy with all kinds seafood dishes and vegetables available this time of year.
3-BOTTLE CLUB
Scala 2016 Ciró Rosso Reserva
Calabria, Italy // Reg $31.99 | Mixed Case $25.59
100% Gaglioppo. Certified organic. Herbal. Earth. Red plums. Red cherries. Super inviting on the nose. Palate adds on black raspberries. Great acidity. Medium-bodied. Complex. Fine tannins on the finish.
We enjoyed this wine with a summer salad of romaine, black beans, spring onions, pickles, sunflower seeds, garden heirloom tomatoes and sliced, grilled chorizo sausage on top. Salmon would be another great option. Drink now to 1 year.
Photo: Francesco Scala, Luigi Scala (owner) & oenologist Benedetto Lorusso and their 16 hectare estate which was founded in 1949.
Great examples of Italian native varietals from these southern regions!
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, owner
Portalis Wine Shop