Made by the Coast

Made by the Coast

The Trapani province, around the old city of Marsala, is Sicily’s vineland. In fact it’s arguably Italy’s vineland, with more area under vine than all of Tuscany’s regions put together. And indeed the only place that stops it being arguably Europe’s vineland is Bordeaux.

This part of Western Sicily is a true viticultural superpower. At around 68,000 hectares it amounts for about 60% of Sicily’s entire vinous output. Within which, as you would expect, are a plethora of terroirs, microclimates and subregions, each suited to an array of indigenous and international varieties capable of casting their umbrella over a kaleidoscopic range of styles, from thrilling, coastal-influenced dry white Grillo to unctuous, gastronomic Marsala.

They just need the right producer to coax them into their tapestry of expression. Which is where Pellegrino comes in.

Pellegrino are among the ‘founding fathers’ of Marsala. One of only three of the great original 19^th Century Marsala Houses still operating, and one of only two still in the hands of the original family. Today they remain experts in this much-overlooked, historic style of fortified wine – but have cast their net to encompass thrilling examples of red and white table wines exploiting the full potential of Western Sicily’s potential.

Founded in 1880, its wines were taken to the next level when Carlo Pellegrino married Josephine Despagne, daughter of legendary Sauternes oenologist Oscar Pierre Despagne. They’ve since gone from strength to strength, with over 150 hectares of their own vineyards, servicing three solar-powered wineries. Western Sicily might not (yet) grab the same headlines as Etna, in the east, but thanks to Pellegrino it’s rapidly taking its deserved place in the consciousness of wine drinkers worldwide.