Grappoli del Grillo Sicilia Grillo DOC 2023

Wine description for Grappoli del Grillo Sicilia Grillo DOC 2023 by Marco de Bartoli

Colour & appearance

Sparkling golden yellow, shot through with lemon-coloured reflections that already hint at the wine’s vibrant acidity in the glass.

Nose

A Mediterranean herb garden: dried rosemary, thyme and sage mingle with bay leaf and ivy. Beneath them emerge linden blossom and elder wood, while orange, honeydew melon and ripe pear lend fruity depth. Vanilla and star anise suggest maturation in wooden casks without overshadowing the primary fruit.

Palate

Precise and demanding: the natural acidity of the Grillo grape cuts freshly across the palate, supported by a pronounced minerality and distinct salty notes. Subtle bitter aromas interplay with spicy herbal fruit to create tension and length.

Finish

Long and stimulating, with an appealing interplay of salty minerality and fine bitter notes that allow the wine to finish dry and precise.

Terroir & origin

The vines have been rooted for over two decades in the calcareous and sandy-clay soils west of Marsala, in the contrade of Samperi and Contrada. Here, in the historic heartland of Marsala, Marco de Bartoli has rehabilitated the indigenous Grillo grape since 1978 – a variety already cultivated by the Phoenicians and first vinified as a single-varietal white wine in 1990 with this very cuvée.

Grape variety & vinification

Pure Grillo, hand-harvested and gently pressed. A 48-hour cold maceration takes place with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel, followed by twelve months of ageing in French barriques with regular bâtonnage. This method gives the dry white wine its velvety texture alongside firm acidity.

Food recommendations

Ideal with aromatic dishes featuring fruity elements, butter- or olive oil-based sauces, as well as grilled fish and goat’s cheese.

Special characteristics

As the estate’s first single-varietal Grillo (1990 vintage), this wine marks the turning point at which the grape evolved from a mere base wine for Marsala into a personality in its own right. The combination of barrique ageing and natural acidity creates a rare balance between Mediterranean richness and Nordic precision – a white wine that carries the warmth of Sicily without ever feeling heavy.