The wines of the Aeolian Islands

The 7 islands of the Aeolian island chain: Lipari, Salina, Panarea, Vulcano, Stromboli, Filicudi and Alicudi, lie in the north-eastern part of Sicily, dealing with the Gulf of Milazzo. Of volcanic nature, they have actually constantly been lived in because ancient times, likewise due to the existence of valuable deposits of obsidian, a lava stone especially demanded for producing cutting and sharp artefacts.

The history of Aeolian viticulture go back to the 8th century BC, when the very first Greek colonists established the city of Messina. The Greek origins of vine culture have actually been bied far through the centuries and have actually reached today day, maintaining the particular shape of sapling growing, especially ideal for the dry spell environment of the location. The three-dimensional shape of the vine, with its plentiful canopy of leaves, safeguards the lots from sunburn and focuses night-time humidity at the base of the plant. Today Aeolian viticulture exists above all on the 2 islands of Salina and Lipari, however there is likewise some little manufacturer in Panarea and on the islands of Vulcano and Stromboli, which are home to still active volcanoes.

Malvasia delle Lipari

Thanks to the very first Hellenic settlements, the Greek Malvasia vine showed up in the Aeolian Islands, which still today represents the gem in the crown of regional viticulture. This white grape has actually adjusted effectively to the Mediterranean and extremely windy environment of the Aeolian Islands, in addition to to the volcanic, sandy and stony soils, abundant in mineral compounds. Its name stems from the Peloponnese area Monemvasia, the port from which the white wine delegated reach the Mediterranean ports. According to the specs, Malvasia delle Lipari Doc can be produced in all the Aeolian Islands and offers the possibility of making dry gewurztraminers, dessert red wines or liqueur red wines. As relates to the ampelographic base, the requirements offers the existence of Malvasia for an optimum of 95% with a little addition of black corinth (5-8%). Regional custom has actually constantly preferred the production of Malvasia delle Lipari Passito white wine, made with grapes dried on racks exposed to the sun, in order to dehydrate the grapes and concentrate sugars and fragrances. Nevertheless, in the last years, the progressive crisis in the intake of sweet red wines has actually pressed regional wineries to turn towards the production of dry gewurztraminers with exceptional outcomes. Dry Malvasia delle Lipari is an aromatic and fruity white wine, delicately fragrant and defined by a tasty freshness, which provides the sip an ideal gustatory balance. A fantastic white especially ideal for normal seafood meals.

Black Corinth and other vines

In addition to Malvasia, there are other vines on the Aeolian islands, the most essential of which is Corinto Nero. It is an ancient red grape range, more than likely of Greek origin, which has the particularity of having no seeds and producing a white wine with fragrances of little berries and fragile hot feelings. In the vineyards there are likewise other ranges stemming from eastern Sicily such as nerello mascalese and nocera, or cultivated throughout the island such as nero d’Avola, inzolia and catarratto which reveal themselves effectively in the specific microclimate of the Aeolian Islands.