Gulfi 'Cerasuolo di Vittoria'
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG > Sicily > IT
Nero d’Avola/Frappato, 2022
“Two great tastes that taste great together.” That used to be the tagline for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but it works perfectly for Sicily’s Cerasuolo di Vittoria wine, too - the only DOCG-designation on the island. There are a lot of great red wine blends in the world, but Cerasuolo di Vittoria is the unsung hero of the group: It’s an opposites-attract blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato which, like the reds of nearby Mount Etna, radiates Sicilian sunshine while also displaying an uncanny level of finesse. Gulfi’s classic blend epitomizes this balance of concentration and nerve, taking the dark, Syrah-like fruit of Nero d’Avola and giving it a jolt of live-wire acidity and floral perfume courtesy of the featherweight Frappato.
Delicious, affordable, unique…that’s the Italian trifecta!
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG > Sicily > IT
Nero d’Avola/Frappato, 2022
“Two great tastes that taste great together.” That used to be the tagline for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but it works perfectly for Sicily’s Cerasuolo di Vittoria wine, too - the only DOCG-designation on the island. There are a lot of great red wine blends in the world, but Cerasuolo di Vittoria is the unsung hero of the group: It’s an opposites-attract blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato which, like the reds of nearby Mount Etna, radiates Sicilian sunshine while also displaying an uncanny level of finesse. Gulfi’s classic blend epitomizes this balance of concentration and nerve, taking the dark, Syrah-like fruit of Nero d’Avola and giving it a jolt of live-wire acidity and floral perfume courtesy of the featherweight Frappato.
Delicious, affordable, unique…that’s the Italian trifecta!
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG > Sicily > IT
Nero d’Avola/Frappato, 2022
“Two great tastes that taste great together.” That used to be the tagline for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but it works perfectly for Sicily’s Cerasuolo di Vittoria wine, too - the only DOCG-designation on the island. There are a lot of great red wine blends in the world, but Cerasuolo di Vittoria is the unsung hero of the group: It’s an opposites-attract blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato which, like the reds of nearby Mount Etna, radiates Sicilian sunshine while also displaying an uncanny level of finesse. Gulfi’s classic blend epitomizes this balance of concentration and nerve, taking the dark, Syrah-like fruit of Nero d’Avola and giving it a jolt of live-wire acidity and floral perfume courtesy of the featherweight Frappato.
Delicious, affordable, unique…that’s the Italian trifecta!
Blend: 70% Nero d'Avola and 30% Frappato
Soils: mostly reddish, sandy clay over limestone
ABV: 13.5%
The Story: On the floor of Gulfi’s Locanda is a reproduction of a mosaic from Enna depicting Eros and Psyche, symbolizing the blending of love and land. From three different vineyards in the Vittoria area, organically grown, the grapes are harvested between the end of September for Nero d'Avola and in the first week of October for Frappato. They are vinified separately with a short maceration of the must on the skins, at a controlled temperature and brought together at the end of alcoholic fermentation. Aged seven months on the lees in steel tanks. Refined in bottle for 1-2 months with low intervention.
Personality: The fruit—a juicy amalgam of every type of cherry you can think of—is the point, along with a dusting of earth, spice, and dried flowers, harmonious and elegant.
Harmony: This is one of those reds that takes beautifully to a chill. Its medium body and tangy freshness will lend it great versatility at the table, whether it’s homemade pizzas; some sushi-grade tuna quickly seared on the grill (or not); or a good old-fashioned eggplant parm or traditional Sicilian Caponata.