Hooked On Sicily: An Island Brimming with Color and Life
by Anthony Lynch
Hooked On Sicily: An Island Brimming with Color and Life
by Anthony Lynch
I vividly remember my first time stepping foot on Mount Etna. As my sneaker sunk into a pillow of dark volcanic dust, I looked up to see a patchwork of vibrant green vineyards and yellow wildflowers climbing up jet-black lava fields beneath a brilliant azure sky. A billow of smoke continuously pumped from the crater at the mountain’s distant summit, and a sense of wonderment washed over me. It felt like simultaneously going back in time and touching down on an entirely different planet. I was instantly hooked—and I had yet to even taste a single wine.
The ensuing tastings confirmed my initial suspicions: Etna is indeed a magical place, with a mystical energy that can be sensed in its finest wines. Its ancient history of grape-growing and winemaking, paired with the volcano’s striking natural properties, have resulted in a terroir unlike any other on Earth. On that first trip, we began to assemble a small portfolio of Etna growers. The wines of Vigneti Vecchio, Grottafumata, and Masseria del Pino are a sensory gateway to Europe’s tallest active volcano; we are thrilled to share their otherworldly creations today.
Sicily’s stunning scenery, captivating personalities, and incomparable wines extend far beyond Etna. The southeast, near the baroque towns of Noto and Ispica, is home to Riofavara, our longest-standing Sicilian import. Within view of the Mediterranean, the Padova family farms white limestone vineyards that yield sun-kissed, but bracingly fresh white, red, and sparkling wines. The whites boast an herbal, citrusy twang and saline hints that make them quintessential seaside creations to pair with pesce and frutti di mare. The reds, made from the hyper-local Nero d’Avola grape, are enlivened by a chalky vein of acidity that keeps the ripe fruit in check and works wonders at table.
Not too far away lies Portelli, a family winery in the heart of Sicily’s only DOCG appellation, Cerasuolo di Vittoria. Just like our other Sicilian selections, Alessandro Portelli’s charming Calabrese (the local name for Nero d’Avola) and Frappato-based reds are brimming with color and life. We invite you to explore them all right now as part of our Sicily Collection.
Wines In The Collection
Masseria del Pino Italy | Sicily
A rosé made via ancient methods from ashy soils high on Mount Etna.
Vigneti Vecchio Italy | Sicily
Aromas of wildflowers, saffron, beeswax, and Mediterranean herbs. Rich, fleshy, and focused, all at just 12% alcohol.
Masseria del Pino Italy | Sicily
A profound red wine full of depth, liveliness, and old-school, rustic character; the intensely gripping, ashy-fine tannin is a trademark of wines from Contrada Pino.
Grottafumata Italy | Sicily
This old-vine Carricante gets its luxurious golden hue from four days of skin contact, a traditional process on Etna that really brings out the distinctive scents of this special place.
Riofavara Italy | Sicily
“Nsajàr” means “to try something new” in the local dialect, and this wine is the epitome of creating something new from something old.
Grottafumata Italy | Sicily
Grottafumata’s first release from the “Vigna degli Architetti” delivers deep, ripe fruit with elegance and grace.
Italy | Sicily
A rosé made via ancient methods from ashy soils high on Mount Etna.
Italy | Sicily
Delicate floral perfume, medium body, and velvety tannin.
Italy | Sicily
Aromas of wildflowers, saffron, beeswax, and Mediterranean herbs. Rich, fleshy, and focused, all at just 12% alcohol.
Italy | Sicily
A profound red wine full of depth, liveliness, and old-school, rustic character; the intensely gripping, ashy-fine tannin is a trademark of wines from Contrada Pino.
Italy | Sicily
This old-vine Carricante gets its luxurious golden hue from four days of skin contact, a traditional process on Etna that really brings out the distinctive scents of this special place.
Italy | Sicily
“Nsajàr” means “to try something new” in the local dialect, and this wine is the epitome of creating something new from something old.
Italy | Sicily
Grottafumata’s first release from the “Vigna degli Architetti” delivers deep, ripe fruit with elegance and grace.
More Collections
Holiday Sale!
Now through Sunday, December 28th, take 20% off the selections below from France and Italy...
Heartwarming and Spirit-Lifting Chablis
Whatever the weather, Lavantureux’s wines are as heartwarming and spirit-lifting as ever—and still deliver value, considering the craftsmanship that goes into each bottle. We’ve put together a collection of four wines featured in our Holiday Sale—their classic Chablis, the overdelivering single-vineyard “Vauprin,” and two newer bottlings from some of their most exciting vineyard additions in recent years—so you can get them at a discount and savor these beauties in their seasonal element.
From the Cellar: Holiday Edition
We’ve done some digging of our own, and came up with a collection of perfectly cellared bottles that would make for epic companions to anyone’s grandest events. You’ll find whites and reds from numerous French and Italian regions dating back up to thirty-five years, with styles and price points for everyone…
The Kermit Lynch Holiday Gift Guide
When it comes to holiday shopping, the gift of wine is hard to beat— especially when it’s a thoughtfully chosen, hand-crafted bottle from one of our many talented growers in France or Italy. Beyond wine, we have an assortment of other goodies to stuff every stocking on your list, from artisanal olive oil to gift cards to ball caps. You’ll find these items and more in the Holiday Gift Shop—now open!
Annual Dessert Wine Sale
Gingerbread cookies, yule logs, pumpkin pies…Sauternes, Banyuls, Muscat…Whether you prefer your treats baked or fermented, no holiday meal is complete without the final flourish of dessert. Now through the end of December, 20% off per bottle!
Annual Sparkling Sale
With seasonal celebrations and feasts around the corner, now is the time to stock up on sparklers from Champagne and beyond. To kick off our annual sale, we’re shining the spotlight on the KLWM quartet of Champagne growers, each with a distinctive house style that exquisitely translates its unique terroir. Get to know all four, as well as a range of lively offerings from regions like the Loire, Alsace, Veneto, and Savoie…
The Incomparable Jean-Pierre Monier
Pure and honest, Monier’s wines are farmed biodynamically and raised with the bare minimum of intervention. There are many Saint-Josephs out there today: put Monier on your shortlist.
Domaine Tempier: the Wine, the Family, the Exuberance
Domaine Tempier is a wine—it is also a family; exuberance and finesse are the traits common to both,” wrote Richard Olney back in 1984. What’s remarkable about this simple yet spot on-observation is how true it rang then, how true it rang forty years prior to that, when Tempier had just released its first wine, and how true it still rings today, forty years later.
New Arrivals
Here is a collection of recent arrivals. Every week, we’ll be adding a dozen or more new arrivals, so check back often for your favorite classics or new discoveries!
The Carpe Vinum Collection
An ever-changing offering of wines that are just about to sell out; one last opportunity to seize a range of selections before they disappear from our shelves forever.
50th Anniversary Merchandise
When the esteemed French wine artist Michel Tolmer created beautiful artwork for our 50th anniversary, we knew right away that we had to feature it on a few select items of merch. After spending maybe a little too much time researching the options, we landed on a classy, leather-strap cap, a comfortable t-shirt made from 100% cotton, and a tote made with incredibly sturdy, fair-trade, and organic cotton by a certified B corp that invests in the livelihoods of women and farmers of India, featuring three wine sleeves and two other compartments for all of your other needs!
Recent Wine Club Selections
Our five wine clubs feature our best values from France and Italy as well as complex and cellar-worthy wines.
