Sicily 4 -8pm $16 for 5 pours.
The largest island in the Mediterranean with a winemaking history that extends back to the ancient Greeks, Sicily has quickly ascended to the top of the list of the hottest things in Italian wine, its vibrant, mineral whites and refreshing yet generous reds presenting a completely different narrative about what the island’s wines can be. For those who might have overlooked the area in the past, one thing is clear: the rustic “table wine” stereotypes of days-gone-by couldn’t be further removed from the reality of Sicilian wine today. In recent years, the island has proven itself capable of producing a dazzlingly eclectic array of value-driven styles that perfectly align with the modern fashion for freshness, purity of fruit, and effortless drinkability.
Having adapted over centuries to the specific conditions of their own home turf, they’re the perfect medium for expressing the identities of the island’s various growing regions. From the southeastern plateau to the Mediterranean coast to the northern mountains, each region of Sicily bears its own unique stylistic calling card. While some have commanded much of the recent industry hype, Sicily offers so much more to explore. For a new wave of younger and increasingly adventurous drinkers, there could be no better introduction to Sicily’s astonishing stylistic continuum than the island-wide Sicilia DOC designation. Established in 2012 to represent the entire territory of Sicily, the appellation unites Sicily’s myriad expressions into a coherent whole while respecting the qualities that make each expression distinct.
Alcesti Bianco Profumi 2023 $15 - Made from Grillo and Catarrato. Bright straw yellow color and hints of Mediterranean fresh fruits. This wine is young and well harmonic.
Annamaria Sala Sicilia Rosso 2023 $19 - While some Nero d’Avola wines can be on the dense and fruity side, the Sala sisters and the terroir make this wine a somewhat translucent red with bright acidity, tension, and elegant fruit.
Ciello Rosso 2024 $19 - A fantastic house wine made with 100% Nero D’Avola grapes from an organic vineyard in western Sicily. Juice notes of black cherry, soft spices, leather and tobacco.
Fuso 2022 Cala Rosso Terre Siciliane $20 - It is a juicy and funky co-ferment of 90% Nero d’Avola and 10% Grillo, a local white grape. The grapes are macerated on the skins for 6 days, then fermented on the lees for 6 months before undergoing malolactic fermentation. The result is a wine with a wild tinge that maintains a medium-light body. Notes of red berries, dried flowers, and a hint of muskiness.
Valdibella Nero D'Avola 2023 Kerasos $19 - A medium-bodied red that has aromas and flavours of ripe cherry, blackberry and black plum. A persistent and smooth finish.
Bonus Wines
Gulfi de Vito Catania 2023 Nero D'Avola $23 - This cuvée delivers scents of ripe black fruits, undergrowth, anise and licorice, as well as a note reminiscent of sandalwood. Provided with a pleasant freshness, it offers a fleshy, yet silky tannic structure that completes a very interesting profile.
Custodi Etna Rosso Pistus 2023 $29 - 80% Nerello Mascalese, 20% Nerello Cappuccio. A bouquet of red fruits such as cherries and strawberries unfolds, laced with a subtle hint of wild herbs. On the palate, it is light and amiable, with a velvety texture that renders it effortlessly quaffable. Its tannins are refined, ensuring a crisp and delightful finish.
Gulfi de Vito Catania Nero D'Avola 2019 "Nerobaronj" $43 - Nerobaronj is a historic Pachino cru producing wines of intensity, deep color, firm tannin and bold flavors.