Alessandro Donnatià Sicilia DOC 2015

On a cold and wet winter’s day, we received a sample of the Alessandro di Camporeale Donnatià Sicilia DOC. This wine is made of 100% Nero D’Avola grapes. It just happened that we were having lasagna for dinner on this dreary day, so we opened the bottle looking forward to a red wine from Sicily. Sicily is one of the Italian wine regions that we have yet to have a chance to visit. Perhaps one day . . .  .

Alessandro di Camporeale has 50 hectares (123.5 acres) of vineyards on rolling hillsides about 400 meters above sea level. The ground consists mostly of clay and limestone. The vineyard is farmed organically and all vineyard work is done by hand. Native varieties grown include the Nero D’Avola grape. As far as Italy goes, the winery is new. The winery was built in 2000, the same year the Nero D’Avola vines were planted.

Nero D’Avola is a red grape. The 2015 Donnatià was an opaque dark ruby to black color. It had a black fruit aroma that was reminiscent of a fruit salad made with predominately black-colored fruits. On the taste there were notes of blackberries, blueberries, black cherries and baking spices. The wine had a velvety mouth feel with medium to full body and medium tannins. The finish was fruity on the onset then yielded to baking spices on the aftertaste. It paired nicely with our lasagna. An Internet search of prices in the United States range from $12 to $16.

Donnatià is an easy to drink red wine. It would pair well with tomato-based Italian dishes. The wine would equally match with a rocking chair on a porch or a easy chair in front of a roaring fire on a wintery day.

Wine Tourism

Alessandro di Camporeale is southwest of Palermo, about a 45-minute drive. The winery has four distinct tasting that include wine and a tour. Some of the tastings include local foods. Another tasting possibility includes a vertical tasting of three vintages of Syrah and other wines paired with bread and olive oil made from olive trees on the estate. A fourth tasting includes lunch. Tastings are priced from €10 ($11)  for the basic tasting to €35.00 ($38) for the lunch.

Cheers,
Terry