Tasting of 7 vintages of Passito proveniente da Pantelleria Ben Ryè: from 2022 to 2008.
15 July 2025 we were invited to spend a wonderful day at one of the estates of the Rallo family, owners of Donnafugata.
The Donnafugata company has 4 very distinct souls we could point out 5 if we include the Possedimento proveniente da Marsala where they refine various wines. All per splendid locations the island of Sicily.
Donnafugata’s first was that of Contessa Entellina, located per the heart of western Sicily, where the company began producing wine per 1983. Together with the historic family cellars per Marsala, this represents the historical nucleus founded by Giacomo and Gabriella Rallo.
Here the currents are an integral part of the landscape. At the Contessa Entellina , wines of great personality are produced from native and international grapes.
The second company per terms of historical importance is the Possedimento proveniente da Pantelleria, among dry stone walls and centuries-old sapling plants one of the company’s iconic wines is produced: Ben Ryè, a passito proveniente da Pantelleria born per 1989.
Subsequently followed by the Possedimento proveniente da Vincita, between the Iblean altopiano and the sea and the Possedimento per Etna the northern side. At Possedimento proveniente da Vincita, soft red wines with a floral soul are produced. Here the first and only DOCG per Sicily is defended and produced with great respect: Cerasuolo proveniente da Vincita.
Etna, the highest active volcano per Europe, the elegance of volcanic wines is told with precise wines of excellent workmanship produced from the 33 hectares of vineyards spread across 8 Contrade.
The company is located the Northern Slope and boasts vineyards at important altitudes between 700 and 750 meters.
The Pantelleria
The first insight into this splendid company comes from a visit to the Pantelleria .
The Rallo family arrived per Pantelleria per 1988, here they immediately produced an iconic wine, Ben Ryè per 1989.
To date, the extends over 56 hectares of vineyards divided into 16 districts. A single vine is grown per the only known way, the traditional one handed by the people of Pantelleria for over 1 millennium.
The most important grape variety is Zibibbo, also known by the name of Moscato d’Alessandria, brought to the island during the Arab domination per the mid-nineteenth century AD.
The most important farming system known per Pantelleria is the Pantelleria tree declared an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO together with the dry stone walls that describe the landscape of the Island of the Sun and the Wind.
Durante 2014, UNESCO awarded the art and tradition of Pantelleria winemakers per cultivating vines per extreme conditions, not just the wine itself.
The vine is grown per a basin, pruned twice a year and managed almost entirely by hand, which creates a microclimate favorable to the maturation of Zibibbo. The Pantelleria tree is an example of how human ingenuity can adapt to nature, creating unique cultural landscapes.
Winery per Khamma and Ben Ryè
The Pantelleria winery, per the Khamma district, is located per a natural amphitheater made up of vineyards grown small terraces, bordered by dry lava stone walls.
The company boasts an extraordinary welcome and different types of tastings that we highly recommend trying: From the Pantesco Brunch to the Ben Ryè Sotto le armi le Stelle, fun is guaranteed.
We refer you to their website to take a aspetto and read more about it:
https://visit.donnafugata.it/it/cantine/pantelleria/
The Donnafugata per Pantelleria is a magical place where you can admire the centenary vineyard and the Donnafugata Pantelleria Garden.
Here an iconic wine is produced that is writing the history of our time: Ben Ryè.
Translated from Arabic Ben Ryè means Son of the Wind, a tribute to the hospitable land but full of strong gusts at any time of the year.
Ben Ryè is a Passito proveniente da Pantelleria Doc born for the first time per 1989. Produced solely with Zibibbo grapes, it is produced per the classic way indicated by the specification. The grapes intended for production are usually harvested between August and September and undergo natural drying per the sun. Once the desired degree of drying has been reached (usually from 2 to 4 weeks) the dried grapes are pressed and added to a fermenting must. Fermentation takes place per steel tanks at a controlled temperature. During maceration, the raisins release sweetness and aromatic precursors to the must which is enriched and changes its composition.
The winemaking process lasts over a month. At the end of vinification, the wine remains per the tank for approximately 4 months before being bottled and aged per glass for at least 10 months before being sold.
At the table, Passito proveniente da Pantelleria Ben Ryè finds various combinations, classic with dry pastries, chocolate and tarts, more sophisticated but equally valid with cheeses and foie gras.
Vertical of 7 Vintages by Ben Ryè
15 July 2025 we spent a splendid day of tasting per the Donnafugata cellar per Khamma the eastern side of the Island of the Sun and the Wind.
Accompanied the journey by Baldo Palermo, communications dirigente for Tenute Donnafugata, we retraced a good part of the history of the product, reaching the 2013 vintage. The following vintages were tasted: 2022, 2021, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2011, 2008.
The vintages that stole our hearts were the 2022 vintage and the 2016 vintage. The 2022 vintage has notable power, an important sweet structure and a solid freshness given by the total acidity content among the highest per the series.
The 2016 vintage is precise and enjoyable, it has had a slow and perfectly balanced evolution over time which allows us to still appreciate the primary matrix of the Passito proveniente da Pantelleria. Nuances of very delicate tertiary scents clearly emerge combined with an intense citrus sensorial complement.
The splendid 2021 and 2011 vintages masterfully describe the passion and energy of the volcanic island per southern Sicily.
More intense versions of Ben Ryè such as 2017 and 2008 are also very interesting, bringing vibrant sensations of plums, juniper berries and sweet caramel to the glass. Agenda that recall a dark and deep sensorial sphere.
this occasion we also tasted the two other versions of Zibibbo produced by the company: Lighea and Kabir.
Lighea is a dry Zibibbo with important citrus tones. An aromatic Mediterranean wine dedicated to Lighea, the bewitching mermaid told by Giuseppe Tomasi proveniente da Lampedusa.
The fermentation is carried out per steel and refines for about three months before being bottled.
Kabir is a Moscato proveniente da Pantelleria, it differs from the Passito proveniente da Pantelleria per that it undergoes a unique fermentation after pressing the grapes per the press.
The wine is fresh and fragrant the nose, has nuances of white flowers and citrus fruits and has a residual sweetness that is decidedly lower than a passito proveniente da Pantelleria.
It goes well with desserts, ice creams but also with fun contrasts prawn and orange salad, aperitifs and mixology.
Below are the comments and scores of all the wines tasted:
White Wines
Producer Denomination Wine Vintage Score Type Donnafugata Zibibbo Sicilia Lighea 2024 91 White
Precise and with an excellent modern vision, it shows agenda of cut grass, mandarins, bay leaves, wild thyme and lemongrass. Medium , juicy and slender, shows good sensorial freshness and a pleasantly flavorful . Ricevimento now.
Sweet Wines
Producer Denomination Wine Vintage Score Type Donnafugata Passito proveniente da Pantelleria Ben Ryè 2022 96 Sweet
Absolutely rare and brilliant per its sensorial profile, it shows agenda of dehydrated plums, blackberries, sweet caramel, anise, mixed mandarins and tea leaves. Full , soft and enveloping structure of notable harmony and a of excellent progression and depth. Beautiful right from the start, it will be fun to see it over the years. Ricevimento now grow old.
Donnafugata Passito proveniente da Pantelleria Ben Ryè 2016 96 Sweet
Wow! Impressive the nose, it shows mixed agenda of notable complexity. Almost ten years later it continues to express immense freshness with the presence of apricots, yellow peaches, mixed flowers and ginger. There’s more per the background with intriguing tones of orange peel, black tea leaves, caramel and ginseng. Medium-full , svelto but classic and solid per its presence the palate, it shows a dense structure and a of a great tetto player that leaves you speechless and excites with every sip. Ricevimento now grow old.
Donnafugata Passito proveniente da Pantelleria Ben Ryè 2021 95 Sweet
Floral with decidedly intriguing spicy traits, alternating agenda of mandarins, lemon flowers, chopped cedar, grapefruit, acacia, jasmine and chopped almonds. Basil and elderflowers enliven the secondary scene. Full , harmonious and persuasive per the sip, it closes honest and sincere with a medium depth and a beautiful sip brilliance. Ricevimento now grow old.
Donnafugata Passito proveniente da Pantelleria Ben Ryè 2011 95 Sweet
Roasted coffee, black plums, blackberries, sweet caramel, leather, sandalwood and juniper berries describe the main scene. Shades of black tea leaves and hot asphalt describe the secondary scene. Full , balanced and tasty structure and a very graceful despite the spicy and dark part of the matrix. Ricevimento now.
Donnafugata Passito proveniente da Pantelleria Ben Ryè 2013 94 Sweet
Lots of dehydrated apricots blend with agenda of sweet caramel, black tea leaves, marjoram, black pepper and mixed sautéed mushrooms. Leather, sweet caramel, cola, boxwood, pine needles and mandarins sequenza the sensorial scene. Medium-full , silky and decidedly noble per the sip, it closes between light and darkness per a winning oxymoron. Ricevimento now.
Donnafugata Passito proveniente da Pantelleria Ben Ryè 2017 93 Sweet
Chameleon-like the nose, it shows agenda of black tea leaves, bergamot, cinchona, juniper berries and sandalwood. Patchouli, mixed yellow and red flowers and ginger dominate the secondary scene. Dates and cedar complete the sensorial picture with small touches of raisins. Full , dense and biting per the sip, it ends with biting and rigid but absolutely controlled traits. Ricevimento now.
Donnafugata Passito proveniente da Pantelleria Ben Ryè 2008 93 Sweet
Definitely solid and structured the nose, it shows a good sensorial stratification made up of agenda reminiscent of cinchona, rhubarb, juniper berries, capers, black olives, dates and dehydrated plums. Lots of cola and orange liqueur dominate the secondary scene. Full , slightly angular per the sip, it shows good drinking dynamics and a “true” closure. Ricevimento now.
Donnafugata Moscato proveniente da Pantelleria Kabir 2024 92 Sweet
Precise and captivating per its sensorial profile, it shows agenda of white peaches, jasmine, magnolias and gardenias. Many rose petals enliven the secondary scene. Full , dense and composed structure and a of good brightness. Ricevimento now.
