Wine Tasting

I’m pretty tired. This morning, we went on our wine-tasting tour at Riofavara. Riofavara Vineyard is located in the Noto Valley, at the border of the Siracusa and Ragusa provinces within the county Ispica, an ancient rural village formerly called “Spaccaforno.”



We started our tour outside by the grapes. The owner explained how they harvest the grapes every year, how they decide whether the grapes are ripe, and how they cut the plant back every year in order to get better fruit. I thought it was particularly interesting that the owner said the plants give sweeter and better fruit because they are planted so close together. They said that because the plants have to compete for resources, they put more energy into making better fruit.

The owners also explained how a hundred or so years ago, there was a blight in Europe that affected and killed almost all the grapes. The only reason that Europe still has grapes today is because the trunk and branches of the European grape plants are grafted onto the root system of the American grape plants, which are immune to the disease.



We then went inside where they showed us the big stainless steel tanks where they ferment the grapes. They explained how they ferment white versus red wine and how long it takes to make the wine. We then went back out into the foyer, where they served us three different types of wine.



The first wine we tried was a white wine called Marzaiolo. It is made of Inzolia, Grecanico, and Chardonnay grapes, which are harvested in the last third of August. The grapes are destemmed and then pressed softly and gradually. They then undergo low temperature fermentation. About ten percent of the must is left to ferment with the yeast for about two months. After that, it is aged for about 6 months. It is a light straw color, more golden. It was pretty easy to drink and tasted fruity, sort of like orange. We learned that white meats and seafood go well with white wine, but not cheese or any dressing with a strong flavor. They served bread with this wine.

The next wine we tried was a red wine called Eloro. It is a typical Sicilian wine made from Nero d’Avola grapes, which are harvested between the end of September and early October. The grapes are destemmed and fermented in contact with their skins in large tanks at controlled temperatures. It is then aged in French oak barrels for at least 6 months. It is a rich ruby red color and pretty dry, which I suppose is because of its contact with the skins. It was pretty strong and a bit bitter, a lot like tannins. We learned that red meats and cheese go best with red wine. They served bread and cheese with this wine.



The last wine we tried was a Moscato dessert wine called Notissimo. It is made from Moscato bianco grapes and harvested upon complete ripeness of the grapes. All the grape stalks are eliminated, and they move onto to a cold maceration and a soft pressing to reach the low temperature of fermentation at 8°C. When the alcohol reaches 11% alcoholic concentration, the fermentation is reduced quickly to -3°C. It is then refined in stainless steel containers for 6 months. It was a bright gold color and smelled really good, like peaches and honey. It also went down extremely easily. I think this was my favorite out of all of them. Maybe I’ll buy a bottle before I go home. We learned that this goes well with sweet foods. They served frosted cookies and cinnamon custard with this wine.



I think I got drunk pretty easily, probably because I didn’t have any breakfast. I felt okay by the time we took our hour bus ride back, probably because I tried to eat a lot and drink water.

I start school tomorrow, but I’m not even really sure when my classes are. I really need to check up on that. Emily and I walked down to the school, but both it and the Internet Train were closed. Maybe I’ll have to settle for just getting up to school early to check it out. There’s an Internet Point near the school that opens at 5:00 PM, but nothing else is open. Oh well. I guess that’s just the way Catholic countries work. On our way back to the apartment, we saw this one poster again. It’s pretty hilarious, but I don’t really get it:



Here are a few more pictures that I forgot to post yesterday of the (1) Santuario Madonna delle Lacrime, aka “the Lemon Squeezer,” (2) the Altar of Hieron, (3) the Greek Theatre, and (4) the caves behind the Greek Theatre.