Integer Zibibbo Terre Siciliane IGP 2022

Marco de Bartoli once rescued Marsala from its industrial corner – a former racing driver who turned Sicily’s wine world so radically on its head that the bureaucracy had to capitulate. Today, his children continue running the estate in Samperi, and with the Integer Zibibbo they demonstrate that the house is capable of far more than fortified classics: a dry, straightforward white wine from the aromatic island grape which, at a slender 11 per cent, offers more tension than many a heavier drop.

Colour & appearance

Bright golden yellow with pale reflections – a play of colour that hints at skin contact without appearing rustic.

Nose

A nose to marvel at: ripe mirabelle, peach and apricot meet blood orange, mandarin and candied orange zest, alongside orange blossom. Beneath lies an oriental bazaar of turmeric, saffron and dried marjoram, oregano and sage. Green walnut and a vegetal note of artichoke complete the aromatic picture – enormously complex.

Palate

Bone-dry, straight as a die, with edges and angles. Despite skin fermentation, it is astonishingly juicy and lean – no trace of breadth or intrusive oxidation. A fine phenolic structure and gentle tannins provide grip, while the bitter compounds build an elegant arc of tension. The fruit carries, the finesse guides.

Finish

Long and spicy: the oriental notes, dried herbs and citrus fruits return on the aftertaste, sustaining the tension right to the very last second.

Terroir & origin

The Zibibbo grape – native to Sicily since time immemorial – is vinified at the de Bartoli family estate. The house farms 30 hectares organically, harvests exclusively by hand and works with indigenous yeasts. Since 1984, the family has also maintained close ties with Zibibbo’s homeland of Pantelleria, where Sebastiano de Bartoli tends the vineyards.

Grape variety & vinification

100% Zibibbo (Muscat d’Alexandrie), fermented with skin contact – which explains the phenolic structure and golden colour. A variety otherwise famous for sweet passiti reveals itself here in a dry, taut guise.

Food recommendations

Ideal with couscous with saffron and vegetables, grilled squid, Sicilian artichokes or a spiced couscous pan with harissa. Also an exciting choice with fish tagine and Asian dishes with coriander.

Special characteristics

What makes this wine rare: the combination of aromatic opulence and bone-dry precision at just 11% ABV – a skin-contact white that prioritises finesse over power, proving just how much drinking pleasure Zibibbo can offer when taken seriously.