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| Alberello Pantesco |
As the sun
sets on 2014, both Pantelleria and Marsala are glistening. On November 26, 2014 Italy’s Minister of
Agriculture announced that UNESCO has awarded World Heritage status to the
traditional bush-training system for grapevines used on the island of
Pantelleria known as alberello pantesco. Planted in shallow craters dug in the black
volcanic soil and sheltered from the Sahara’s winds by lava stone walls, the alberello vines of Pantelleria’s Zibibbo
(Muscat of Alexandria) variety produce the island’s golden Moscato di
Pantelleria and Passito di Pantelleria wines.
This recognition of alberello pantesco
is the first time that UNESCO has distinguished an agricultural practice as an
“Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”.
Donnafugata’s Kabir Moscato di
Pantelleria and Ben Ryé Passito di
Pantelleria are pure expressions of the fruit of this ancient viticulture – and
an ideal way to toast the christening of the alberello pantesco. We
salute the winegrowers of Pantelleria for preserving and protecting their
island’s true patrimony.
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| Marsala - Pantone's Color of the Year 2015 |
On the cusp
of the New Year, Marsala has been christened in a different realm – the world
of visual design. Pantone has named Marsala the “Color of the Year” for
2015. It is a reddish-brown color
(#18-1438), evocative of an older and rarer Marsala fortified wine type known
as Marsala Rubino. Beginning in 1984 the Marsala DOC reinstated
this ruby version of Marsala (which was more common in the nineteenth century). A blend of Sicily’s native varieties,
Pignatello (Perricone), Nero d’Avola and/or Nerello Mascalese, Marsala Rubino
is made in three styles – dolce, secco,
and semisecco. In introducing
Pantone 18-1438, Pantone describes the color as “naturally robust and earthy
wine red, Marsala enriches our minds, bodies and souls”. Following this debut of the color Marsala to the world, we hope that the
winegrowers of Marsala will themselves rediscover the beauty of their authentic
Marsala Rubino (and Vergine) wines – and Marsala once more will enrich our
minds, bodies and souls.
Happy New Year to Pantelleria, Marsala and to Sicily!
