A little bit of bottled Sicilian sunshine right here in the form of this highly delicious rosato from an elevated patch of land pretty much smack-bang in the centre of Sicily. The wine is as pure as the vines are remote; pale and perfumed with gentle notes of orange blossom, zest and brine. The palate offers a pleasant saltiness and blood orange bitters that provide no shortage of refreshment.
The 2023 Rosato is unique due to challenges with downy mildew during harvest, as such there was a shortage of Frappato. So, this year sees a higher percentage of Nero D’avola in the mix, lending the wine a much deeper colour than usual with wonderful structure and a spicy undertone.
Filippo Rizzo's vines are right in the middle of nowhere, on a raised patch of rolling hills in Sicily's interior, with the only reference point being the smouldering peak of Etna peering over the hills. They total five hectares and are up to 60 years old, planted over a mix of sand and clay at an elevation of 430 metres above sea level. There are rather dramatic differences in temperature between day and night, a real boon in this typically Mediterranean climate. Filippo is wary of dogma and simply seeks to make the best wine that each vintage allows. Grapes are only picked when completely ripe and the wines offer complexity, density and balance. Vineyard work is organic and the approach to winemaking is restrained, considered and practical, with the aim to provide characterful expressions of Sicily's native grapes.
