Italy: Feudi del Pisciotto - Frappato 2024, Niscemi, Sicily

Read Alex's Producer Profile on Feudi del Pisciotto

Grape variety: 100% Frappato. 13% alcohol. 

Native to Sicily, Frappato is prized for its aromatic qualities, freshness and affinity with food. It is medium-bodied, has a wonderful lightness of touch, and is often likened to Gamay (Beaujolais), or lighter styles of Nebbiolo (Piemonte). 

This wine is simply a joy to drink. Silky, fresh, floral, and quietly complex, it shows just how much finesse can come from Sicily’s sun-baked soils. It’s all about the fruit character - it does not see any oak - which is surprising given its complexity; it is fermented and aged only in steel for 4 months, followed by 2 months in bottle before release.

Some describe Frappato as a great value Sicilian version of a Piemontese Nebbiolo, such as a Barolo or Barbaresco, but with less tannic weight. 

The label features strokes of fiery red that evoke the lava of the volcano, inspired by the ceramics of the great master from Caltagirone, Giacomo Alessi. The estate is magnificent and boasts a hotel and highly-rated restaurant, so you can go and stay there!

At a recent day-long tasting in a room packed full of wines, this was the wine everyone wanted a glass of at the end, and most of us did just that!

Do drink this lightly chilled. 

Food pairing:

The not-too-heavy, affordable, refreshing, fruit-driven red I’ve been looking for to go with anything Italian at home: just great with tomato-based pasta, pizza, as well as cold cuts, burrata, and full-flavoured fish. Will also go very well with roasted vegetables, turkey, and cranberry sauce. 

The winemaker’s notes:

Fragrant, soft, and well-balanced, with notes of strawberry, pomegranate, rose, and freesia. It's a great food wine, especially with tomato-based dishes.