Sicily translates to “the land of figs and olives,” according to a local guide I met on a recent trip. Though I couldn’t find anything to verify this, I do know that around the globe Sicily means great wine, delicious food, and stunning ancient wonders. To put an academic spin on it, the definition of Sicily is an island off the southern Italy coast boasting the densest population of any island in the Mediterranean Sea.
Italy Insider: When in Rome, drink the Sicilian wine
When I hear Sicily or see the name in print, I immediately think of wine. We took an incredible wine tour with @winesofsiciliadoc @winesofsicily. Not only did my taste buds receive quite an education, so did my brain. For example, most of us know that Champagne (French, I know, but an excellent
example) refers to the geographic location. Napa Valley can produce “sparkling wine” but not Champagne. This classification system is referred to as Appellation d’origine controlee (AOC) in France and is based on how and where the wines are produced.
Think you know wine?
Check out the following 10 facts.
The Italian version of AOC is called denominazione di origine controllata (DOC). You’ll find the designation on the wine label. Then, there’s also Denominazione di Origine Controllat e Garantita (DOCG).
Actually, Italy puts a finer point on the classification. The DOCG refers to a government taste test guaranteeing the highest quality standards.
Wine historians put the year of birth for the DOC wine designations as 1963.
After intense criticism of too many DOC designations with varying degrees of quality, DOCG standard debuted in 1980.
Other Italian wine classifications include Classico, which is added after the appellation and created in the town’s historic center. Superiore has a minimum of .5 percent more alcohol than standard wines. Riserva indicates wine aged for a mimimum of 2 years.
DOCs number 326 across the entire Italian boot., from Prosecco to the dessert-like Moscato, and more. Each DOC governs its own requirements for aging, varietals, and harvest yields.
More than 350 grapes have “authorized status” as a varietal in Italy. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is the agency to grant such status.
Italy produces about twice as much red wine (vino rosso) as white wine (vino bianco).
Saluti is the common toast before taking a sip from your glass. Cin cin is more casual or joking around.
Always wait for everyone’s glass to be filled before toasting, and when you do, look your tablemates in the eyes.
On each street in Sicily I would look up and find a treasure. One entrance can lead to a hidden garden, and another can showcase details of architectural history and beauty. For me, that’s the art of travel. I’ll be back soon, Sicily.
Here’s a video to dream of Sicily.