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Italian DOCG wines: Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

cerasuolo di vittoria DOCG - EFW
Written by EFW Staff

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, the Sicilian sun in a bottle

Let’s go on talking about Italian DOCG wines, today we are in Sicily, land of sun and sea, colors, food and wine excellences. An example is Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG that comes from the south-east part of Sicily, more precisely in the province of Ragusa, Caltanissetta and Catania.

cerasuolo di vittoria DOCG - EFW

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, historical hints

The first historical hints of this wine can be dated back in 1808 when the abbot Paolo Balsamo wrote in its “Travel Journal”: the countryside in Vittoria (…) produces above all wines that are pretty popular and it has to be, in my opinion, considered as the best table wine in the Island. It is not made of other grape variety than grossonero, calabrese and the unique frappato”.
He was talking about Frappato and Nero d’Avola, wines that made that unique and ancient Italian DOCG, Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG. This wine, already DOC in 1973, was recognized as DOCG in 2005 and it includes only wines with characteristics respect the code of production, specifically “Cerasuolo di Vittoria” and “Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico”.

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, code of production

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The vineyards, where the Cerasuolo di Vittoria is produced, has to have an ampelography from 50% to 70% of Nero d’Avola and from 30% to 50% of Frappato, products in the three provinces in the southern part of Sicily: Ragusa (Vittoria, Comiso, Acate, Chiaramonte Gulfi, Santa Croce Camerina), Caltanissetta (Niscemi, Gela, Riesi, Butera e Mazzarino), Catania (Caltagirone, Licodia Eubea e Mazzarrone). These areas, dressed to the cultivation of the vineyards, are the same where the vinification and the bottling take place.

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, characteristics

The name Cerasuolo di Vittoria derives from “cerasa”, cherry in the Sicilian dialect; it a wine with a typical red colour that grow on sandy soils. In the mouth and in the nose it is easy to recognize wild berries, pomegranate and mulberry, well highlighted also black pepper and sweet black cherry. The end is sapid with notes of mulberry.

Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, pairings

This wine will surprise you paired with pizza, but it is perfect with fishes like tuna, or with mushrooms or game.

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EFW Staff