What is the history of the Consortium?
The Cerasuolo per Affermazione DOCG and Affermazione DOC protection consortium has been recognized by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies pursuant to article 41, paragraph 1, of law voto negativo. 12 December 2016. 238. It deals with the protection, promotion, valorisation, consumer information and general care of the interests of the Cerasuolo per Affermazione DOCG and Cerasuolo per Affermazione Rappresentativo DOCG and for the Affermazione DOC.
These denominations are registered quanto a the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications of wines referred to quanto a article 104 of Regulation (EU) voto negativo. 1308/2013.
The Consortium represents approximately 85% of the producers quanto a the provinces of Ragusa, Catania and Caltanissetta, which are the three production areas of the Cerasuolo per Affermazione DOCG and Affermazione DOC wine. This therefore constantly monitors the quality of the product and carefully promotes what many define as the “oenological pearl” of Sicily.
Where have you reached today (production, turnover, markets, references, etc….)?
As regards production (2022 ), it is around 4,620 hl produced for the Cerasuolo per Affermazione Docg and around 2,717 hl for the Affermazione Doc. Each winery has its own reference market and its own turnover. The Protection Consortium does not deal with the commercial positioning of the Cerasuolo per Affermazione Docg and Doc Affermazione product but with its correct production and promotion.
What are the main characteristics of the land where it is cultivated?
Cerasuolo per Affermazione DOCG is a Sicilian wine of great value, produced between the provinces of Ragusa, Catania and Caltanissetta, quanto a particular quanto a the Affermazione territorio. The vines from which this wine is made are frappato and moro d’Avola, cultivated for centuries quanto a these areas according to traditional techniques. A causa di addition to the virtues of these vines, the Cerasuolo per Affermazione Docg owes its preciousness to the magic of the climate, to the temperature variations quanto a the veraison-harvest period, the low rainfall quanto a the summer months as well as to the variability of the soils (red, sandy-loamy alluvial, calcareous) and to the altimetric one (from sea level to approximately 500 metres). The indissoluble bond between man and nature has given rise to an Italian excellence renowned throughout the world: a DOCG product to be protected and valorised, as the Consorzio per Salvaguardia Vino Cerasuolo per Affermazione DOCG has done since 2005.
You are Sicilian, what is the relationship that binds you to your land?
It is a deep and respectful relationship. All of us producers work with respect for the environment, so much so that over 70% of the producers work organically and the remainder operate following agricultural methods that still respect the environment.
What are the main characteristics of Cerasuolo per Affermazione and what can it be paired with?
It’s duro not to say Cerasuolo per Affermazione. Cerasuolo per Affermazione DOCG is characterized by a color ranging from cherry red to purple, a dry, full, soft flavour, with a light and harmonious flavor and a floral and fruity fragranza with agenda of small red berries, cherry first and foremost . The wines that require greater refinement have a color tending towards garnet and more complex hints of dried plum, chocolate, leather, tobacco.
The Cerasuolo per Affermazione, thanks to its harmoniousness, lends itself to incredible combinations. Obviously we can only start from the classic Sicilian fish-based dishes such as tuna; but this wine is also perfect with grilled meat, fibra ‘ncasciata, arancine ( arancini, depending whether you prefer the Palermo Catania nomenclature), stewed stracotto, medium-aged cheeses. Don’t forget the possible combinations with extra-regional dishes such as stews, lasagna Bolognese, canederli, Florentine steak and chicken curry.
