2022 FRAPPATO. Donnafugata. Sicily, Italy

100% Frappato

The Donnafugata label was launched in 1983 by the Rallo family with the specific aim of championing Sicily’s indigenous varieties, such as Frappato. The Rallo family business was established in 1851 – at the time specifically to make the local famous fortified wine – Marsala. But as sales declined of that wine, they turned their attention to table wines and the potential Sicily had to offer to make high quality and authentic examples.

Today, Donnafugata has four estates in Sicily, with a modern winery, and 283 hectares in total under vine. The vineyards for the Frappato are in Acate, Vittoria, in southeast Sicily, at an altitude of 120 to 150 metres. The gently sloping terrains have sandy soils with calcareous clay. The climate is Mediterranean, mitigated by sea breezes during the summer and in an area that experiences a good diurnal range (high: low temperature range).

The grapes were harvested during September and fermented in stainless steel for about 9 days at a relatively cooler temperature of 25°C. The finished wine was aged in tank for 4 months and then in bottle for at least 6 months before release. Antonio Rallo oversees the winemaking.

A vibrant dry wine with bold notes of strawberry and cherry with some herbal and floral nuances. Tannins are ripe and silky. This has a fine, authentic, style.

This would benefit from decanting and aerating for an hour before pouring. Can be enjoyed now but has the concentration and structure to age well for another 2-4 years.