Marsala Wine: the Liquid Gold of Sicily
Marsala is not simply a wine: it is in fact a liquid tale of English ships, brilliant intuitions and a land kissed by the sun. The wind of western Sicily caresses this territory, unique in the world. It is no coincidence that Marsala was the first Italian wine to obtain DOC recognition.
The historic era: from Woodhouse’s landing to worldwide success
Modern Marsala wine has a very precise date of birth: 1773. In that year the English merchant John Woodhouse landed in the city’s port. There, in the local taverns, he tasted Perpetuum, a robust, high-strength wine that aged through a topping-up system.
Woodhouse immediately sensed its potential for the British market. He feared, however, that the sea voyage might spoil it, so he added grape spirit to the barrels. This “fortification” technique not only protected the wine, but also gave birth to Marsala as we know it today. Success in England was in fact immediate and overwhelming, so much so that it became the favourite wine of Admiral Nelson’s fleet.
Terroir and grapes: a realm of whites
In the countryside around Marsala, viticulture enjoys perfect climatic conditions, because white grape varieties clearly prevail. The historic varieties behind the Oro and Ambra styles are therefore:
- Grillo: the leading variety, essential above all for structure, body and an extraordinary ageing potential.
- Catarratto and Inzolia: which enrich the wine with freshness, intense aromas and also elegant nuances.
Although the territory is dominated by whites, a precious historic niche of red grapes also exists. Perricone and Nero d’Avola in fact give life to the rare Marsala Rubino.
The historic cellars of Marsala: temples of wine
If there is a place where time seems to have stopped, it is the great historic cellars along the seafront of Marsala. These imposing complexes in fact hold thousands of oak barrels, where the wine rests for years. The tuff floors and the tall pointed vaults are especially striking. The dynasties that made the name of Marsala eternal are therefore:
- Cantine Florio (founded in 1833): it was the brilliant entrepreneur Vincenzo Florio who broke the British monopoly. Thanks to Cantine Florio, in fact, Marsala became the first Italian wine to compete steadily on the tables of the international aristocracy.
- Pellegrino (founded in 1880): another milestone of the city, born above all from the passion of Paolo Pellegrino, guardian for over a century of the tradition tied to this land.
Come and visit us in Marsala: staying at Zi Mari you can easily reach the historic cellars and so taste the real Marsala DOC wine.
Photo gallery
Photos of the cellars and vineyards are coming soon, so come back and visit us before long.