Donnafugata

Donnafugata Winery

In fact, a long family history begins in 1851. In the beginning, the Rallo family mainly produced Marsala, but later they expanded into western Sicily and the island of Pantelleria.

In reality, the word " Donnafugata" means "woman on the run", and is in reference to Queen Maria Carolina, who in the 19th century hid from Napoleon's troops in the vineyards near the cellar. This story was featured in the novel The Leopard. The company adopted the Donnafugata name in the 1980s to underscore its focus on producing high-quality Sicilian wines.

Today the Donnafugata Sicilian winery produces wines of great depth. They focus on small and prestigious productions from unique territories. The company owns 338 hectares of vineyards throughout Sicily and on the island of Pantelleria.

Their annual production is around 2 million bottles of Italian wine. Donnafugata exports its wine to 90 countries. Additionally, the winery is environmentally friendly and is certified in sustainable agriculture and winemaking.

Donnafugata Wines

The production of Donnafugata wines covers a great variety of high quality Sicilian wines: rosé wines, white wines, red wines, sweet wines, sparkling wines, and grappas.

Here is an overview of the most representative and well-known Sicilian wines at Donnafugata Winery Sicily.

Ben Rye Passito di Pantelleria is one of the most famous Sicilian dessert wines in Italy. The Passito is produced with Zibibbo grapes from 11 districts of the island of Pantelleria. The grapes are harvested manually and then softly pressed and fermented in steel at a controlled temperature.

Passito di Pantelleria Ben Rye ages for 8 months in tanks and for 12 months in bottles. The wine is fruity with notes of apricot and candied orange peel, aromatic herbs, and honey. The finish is persistent and characterized by mineral notes. Indeed, Donnafugata Ben Ryé derives from an Arabic term that means "Son of the Wind". Not only is it an amazing wine to taste, but it has a romantic history and name.

Another Donnafugata wine to be considered for its freshness is Donnafugata Sur Sur from Grillo grapes. It has citrus and mineral notes. On the nose, the Grillo Sur Sur offers notes of white fruit, grapefruit, pineapple, and peach. The aroma of wildflowers and cut grass together with a smooth taste gives a delicious finish. A white Donnafugata with a pleasant drinkability, which goes very well with Italian dishes and aperitifs.

Chiaranda Donnafugata is a very refined chardonnay with delicate hints of white flowers, apple, lemon, and aromatic herbs. It is a very fresh wine with mineral notes. The nose is characterized by a large and varied bouquet. Donnafugata Chiaranda it is a white wine of great personality and elegance, with great aging potential and a large and fragrant bouquet.

Sedara Donnafugata is a blend composed mainly of Nero d'Avola grapes, with small percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. On the palate, this wine is rich and fruity with a pleasant freshness. You can feel a light cherry, pepper, and plum flavor from the very first sip. Sedara Sicilian Red Wine Donnafugata is an everyday wine, easy to drink, and very versatile that goes well with first courses, red meats, or roasts.

Mille e Una Notte Donnafugata is a masterpiece of enology. It is a very balanced wine with a deep and long finish. This wine is a complex blend made with Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, and Syrah grapes. This is followed by 14 months of aging in new French oak, followed by 36 months in the bottle.

The Mille e Una Notte Donnafugata the nose opens on ripe cherries and mulberries that blend with delicate hints of eucalyptus and black pepper. The hints of black fruit and spices give an unforgettable flavour. A wine that cannot be missing from the cellar of an Italianwinelover!