Carlo Pellegrino

Purely varietal Frappato that combines the sunny side of Sicily with a pinch of freshness. The vines are rooted in the lower zones around Trapani and Marsala – sandy, chalky soils, cooled by the Mediterranean breeze, which give the wine a fragrant clarity. Light ruby red in colour with a violet hue. Red berries, cherry, a hint of violet and delicate spice on the nose. Juicy on the palate, with fine acidity and delicate, well-integrated tannins. Maturation in stainless steel tanks preserves the aromatic freshness. Best served slightly chilled with Mediterranean antipasti, grilled vegetables or pasta with fresh herbs. SUPERIORE.DE

The Nero d'Avola grapes for Cardilla (formerly Cent'Are) come from the sun-drenched plains around Marsala, characterised by chalky soils and a light sea breeze – ideal conditions for expressive fruit and balanced ripeness. Dark ruby red in colour with a purple hue. The aroma is reminiscent of dark cherries, blackberries, some plums and Mediterranean herbs, underpinned by a spicy nuance. Soft and round on the palate, with gentle tannins, ripe fruit and a subtle hint of chocolate on the finish. The ageing in stainless steel tanks emphasises freshness and varietal typicity. An uncomplicated but characterful Nero d'Avola for every day. SUPERIORE.DE

A rosato that carries the light of Sicily within it. The Frappato grape variety, known for its fragrant elegance, brings a lot of finesse and lightness to the glass, especially in rosé format. Grown on sandy, calcareous soils near Trapani and Marsala, the wine is matured in stainless steel tanks to preserve its fresh, fruity character. Delicate salmon pink colour with copper reflections. Smells of wild strawberries, pink grapefruit and a hint of hibiscus. Juicy and clear on the palate, with lively acidity, a delicate fruity flavour and a finely salty finish. A Mediterranean rosato with a fine finish – ideal as an aperitif or with antipasti, seafood and light summer cuisine. SUPERIORE.DE

I.P – two letters that mean a lot in the Marsala Codex: Italia Particolare, the traditional quality mark for Marsala, to which mosto cotto – cooked grape must – is added. It gives the wine its characteristic depth, its amber colour and that warm sweetness that is never overpowering. Pellegrino produces this Fine from Grillo, Catarratto and Inzolia, the classic triumvirate of grape varieties from western Sicily, and ages it in oak for at least twelve months. Not a vintage, not a Riserva, but an honest, everyday Marsala with genuine origins.

This pure Grillo comes from coastal vineyards around Marsala, whose saline soils and proximity to the sea give the wine its fresh, mineral flavour. Pale straw yellow in colour with a greenish tinge. White peach, star fruit, lemon zest, sage and a hint of sea breeze on the nose. Dry on the palate, with lively acidity, clear fruit and salty tension. The finish is straightforward, fresh and elegant. A typical Sicilian wine with a beautiful draught, unadulterated, cool and Mediterranean. Perfect with grilled fish, marinated seafood or summer vegetable dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

Finimondo – the "end of the world". This is what the Pellegrino family calls the wine that comes from the remote hinterland of Agrigento, where the vineyards are rooted between 250 and 600 metres above sea level in the terra grande, the loamy, silty soil that characterises Sicily's western tip. Since 1880, the name Pellegrino has stood for Marsala and Sicilian wine culture in its purest form – now in its seventh generation, with over 150 hectares of vineyards and a respect for the terroir that runs through every bottle. For the Finimondo, autochthonous grape varieties – mainly Nero d'Avola and Syrah – are vinified according to ancient tradition: After harvest, the grapes dry directly on the vine in the Sicilian sun by cutting off the shoots, concentrating sugar and flavours in a natural way. After a long maceration and controlled fermentation, the wine matures for four months in wooden barrels.

Pale straw yellow in colour. Jasmine and lavender on the nose, a fine note of nutmeg and elderberry and a hint of apple and lemon. Precise, dry and fresh on the palate, with good acidity, flanked by citrus notes and the flavour of light peaches and green apple. This is how piquant and aromatic Sicily tastes, expressive and mineral-fresh! SUPERIORE.DE

A Nero d'Avola with southern warmth and fine depth: Gazzerotta presents itself with a clear presence and elegant expression. The wine comes from sunny vineyards around Mazara del Vallo, characterised by clayey and chalky soil, which gives it a juicy fruit and earthy minerality. Intense ruby red in colour. The aromas intertwine ripe berries, cherry and plum with a seductive spicy note, tamed by floral traces of violets and a hint of honey. Soft, warm and round on the palate. Balanced tannins, juicy fruit and a lingering spicy finish round off the profile. Medium-bodied and well-balanced, ideal with pasta al forno or spicy ragouts. SUPERIORE.DE

Marsala dry – that still sounds like a surprise to many. Yet dryness was the norm for a long time: before sweetness and flavour additives degraded most Marsala to a kitchen commodity, it was a serious, dry liqueur wine. Pellegrino is a reminder of this. The "Old Marsala" in its new, dry interpretation is superlative quality: 24 months in wooden barrels, Grillo, Catarratto and Inzolia from western Sicily. No mosto cotto, no sweetening – the wine is left to its own devices, works oxidatively, develops depth.

The general is said to have been a teetotaller. Until he drank Marsala. The story may be legend – this wine has earned its name since 1862, when Giuseppe Garibaldi landed in Marsala with his troops and discovered the sweetness that won him over. Grillo, Catarratto and Inzolia, the classic triad of western Sicily. After the infusion and addition of mosto cotto, the Garibaldi Dolce matures for 24 months in large oak barrels – twice as long as the Fine, with correspondingly more depth and concentration.

An Etna Rosso full of temptation and polished elegance, Ulysse is a reference to Odysseus' legendary naval voyages and this vibrant tension between the Nerello grape and the unique Etna terroir reflects precisely this balance between adventure and the spirit of discovery. Intense ruby red in colour with garnet hues. The nose opens with an aroma of cherry, blackcurrant and raspberry, along with spicy, subliminal pepper, vanilla and a hint of tobacco – clear, precise and pleasantly inviting. On the palate, Ulysse has a moderate body, juicy fruit and fine but present acidity. The tannins are softly embedded, the finish is long, with a fine aftertaste and a lot of flavour that whets the appetite for the next sip. An accessible, cultivated Etna Rosso – ideal with dark poultry, grilled vegetables or mildly matured cheese. Have a good trip! SUPERIORE.DE

Dry Zibibbo (Muscat from Alexandria) from the island of Pantelleria, grown at an altitude of around 300 metres in ferrous soils of volcanic origin. Isesi is delicately floral and smells of honeysuckle and perfumed star jasmine, which is appropriately called Sicilian jasmine in Italy. The flavour is dry and balanced, with just the right softness, freshness and lightness to make this high-quality white wine so incredibly charming and delicate. SUPERIORE.DE

Giardino Pantesco is a liquid short holiday on Pantelleria – as golden as a last ray of sunshine at sunset, carried by the history and terroir of this magical island. The name refers to the "Giardini Panteschi", the centuries-old dry stone walls built in a round shape that intercept the wind and stabilise the microclimate for crops such as the gnarled Zibibbo vine. Those who savour this passito will feel the reverence for this landscape and tradition with every sip.

The Inghams came to Sicily in pairs. Benjamin first – in 1806, with the instinct of an entrepreneur. Then, in 1819, his uncle Joseph followed: not to inherit, but to help, to build, to expand. Together they created a trading empire that Marsala shipped all over the world with their fleet. Pellegrino remembers them both – "BIP" for Benjamin, "Uncle Joseph" for the uncle who came when he was needed. And the wine? An outsider among the Marsala types – and that's exactly what makes it interesting. 100% Nero d'Avola, from loamy soils in the Trapesi countryside around Mazara del Vallo, harvested in the second decade of September when fully ripe. Cold maceration, then fermentation stopped with an acquavite matured in oak for at least five years – the depth begins here. 24 months of ageing in French Allier oak barrels give the Rubino structure and that velvety texture that makes Nero d'Avola so unmistakable.

Tripudium is a single-varietal Nero d'Avola from classic vineyards around Trapani, from broodinglimestone and clay soils with a light sea breeze – a terroir that gives this wine balance, tension and minerality. The name, inspired by an intoxicating celebration, is a reference to the untamed vitality of Nero d'Avola, which presents itself here as a powerful yet highly charming greatness. The summer of 2020 in Sicily was an interesting balancing act between summer heat and evening freshness, with the grapes ripening with clear depth and lively structure.

Three letters, a whole story: BIP stands for "Benjamin Ingham Palermo". The Englishman came to Sicily in 1806 – not as a tourist, but as an entrepreneur with vision. He followed in the footsteps of John Woodhouse, but surpassed him by far: Ingham built up a trading empire that shipped Marsala all over the world and left a lasting mark on the city. Pellegrino still preserves his archive today – 110 volumes of Sicilian economic history. Pellegrino dedicates its elegant Oro Riserva to this man. Grillo, Catarratto and Inzolia, from sandy coastal soils between Marsala and Petrosino. The fermentation is stopped with an acquavite aged in oak for at least five years – a detail that stacks depth upon depth. Then: more than 48 months in large oak barrels, a further six months in barriques. The 2013 is a wine that has clearly benefited from time.

The year is 1773 and a storm drives the English merchant ship "Elizabeth" into the harbour of Marsala. John Woodhouse, a merchant from Liverpool, seeks shelter – and finds a wine in an osteria that won't let him go. To stabilise it for the long journey home, he fortifies it with Acquavite. A makeshift solution that establishes the history of an entire wine. Pellegrino, the centrepiece of the Marsala tradition since 1880, has dedicated its own cuvée to this far-sighted Englishman. "Old John" – respect in two words. Grillo, Catarratto and Inzolia, harvested in the hinterland between Marsala and Mazara del Vallo, are fortified with neutral alcohol after fermentation has stopped and topped with mosto cotto – grape must – flavoured and slightly sweetened. Then comes the time: at least 48 months in large oak barrels and a further six months in barriques. The 1998 is a true Riserva – not a vintage for the impatient.