When I take a sip of Sicilian wine, I have a unique sensation. I feel a warm ray of joy rising from the region of my heart to my face and making me smile. I rejoice every time I take my first sip of Sicilian wine. It is not like the first sip of another Italian wine, which can be excellent, it lies down with soft warmth, gently envelops, warms. But this ray of joy from the region of the heart to the face gives only Sicilian wine. And then this feeling pours out with the second and third wave of tender joy somewhere upward, such overflows of joy, make a person light. And this is not just my feelings, I asked others, they feel the same.
And we have tried to figure it out many times. For example, when we drank medium quality French wine that can be freely purchased in the store, at the same price as Sicilian and Italian wine, then French wine of the same category gives a completely different feeling. French wine floats somewhere on the outward level of sensation, without going inward, and you just try to cope with the wave that French wine causes externally, but it doesn't touch you internally. While Sicilian wine does not in any way limit the range of external sensations, it gives maximum freedom and lightness, just enjoy from the inside. I would say that Sicilian wine is like a spiritual balm. French wine is more of a passion. Continental Italian wine is, perhaps, tender, like a mother. But Sicilian wine gathers you and focuses you on the main joy, deeper and invigorates you, making you light.
But I know very well that Sicilian wine can be different, there are many varieties, each with its own history. And this is all the more surprising because all Sicilian wine gives a feeling of joy and lightness from the inside. For me, it was a bit of a mystery, I wanted to try varieties of Sicilian wine and see the difference. Now I can say that, yes, it is different, but it has exactly this common property: joy from within, warmth, invigorating, not awkward. I think this is probably due not even to the grape variety, but to the energy of the people who make the wine. Because each of our work carries a charge of energy that we transfer to it. We ask a Sicilian connoisseur about Sicilian wine, because Sicily is his home, Nicolò Reina, the manager of the Custonaci Tourist Office.
- Hi, Nicolo.
- Hello Elena.
- Nicolo, wine is the important part of people's culture. The Holy Scriptures speak many times of wine, it is a very symbolic and useful product. I assume that wine has been a treasure of Sicilian culture since ancient times, what is known?
- Elena, you're right, wine is a very important part of people's culture. The remains found in the areas of Mount Kronio (Sciacca) and Sant'Ippolito (Caltagirone) are at least 6,000 years old. That is, the wine of Sicily is one of the oldest on earth. The technology of making wine makes it a part of our life for a long time. The wine remains with us for several years, and in the same containers we plant a new harvest, and this is how the continuity of cultural traditions is achieved. Wine accompanies us in joy and difficulty, we obviously transmit the spiritual meanings of the events of our life to the wine. This can be felt when taking a sip of wine, although I admit that different people may perceive it differently. What do you think is the most impressive wine of Sicily?
- I think, of course, Nero D'Avola. This is an extraordinary wine, it really thrills the heart with its deep intonations and overflows with taste, color and aroma. Avola is located in the south-east of Sicily in the province of Syracuse.
- Yes, yes. I remember this wine very well, this is a true volcano of taste, a powerful wave of energy pours into you with every sip, freeing you from worries. You find yourself in another dimension of life after taking a sip of Nero. It remains in your attention, like a good conversationalist, and does not let you go.
- Probably yes. But you know that there are other excellent wines from the grapes that grow on the slopes of Etna. Obviously Etna gives the grapes both a richness of taste, since the slopes of the volcano have an extremely rich soil, and a sparkling energy. Etna attracts people from all over the world like a magnet, with its beauty and its powerful energy. Etna is like an affectionate mother, it gives us joy, gladdens our heart and enriches our land. I fully understand that this is passed on to the wines we make and drink. Spiritually, this is a single cultural whole: our land, our vine cultivation and wine. On the slopes of Etna are also grown Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, red grapes, they are beautiful. But there are also some amazing white grapes that can give you that feeling of radiant joy from within, you described. This is the Carricante. And there are, of course, this wonderful wine of the Grillo and Catarratto varieties.
- You know, I wasn't a big fan of white wines until I tasted Sicilian wines. Grillo and Catarratto are truly fantastic, unique, unlike anything else. You cannot forget the taste of these wines, everything else vanishes.
- This is probably the case, because Catarratto often becomes a part of the composition of continental Italian wines. Today, the province of Trapani alone produces 10% of Italian wine, although only 20% is labeled as Sicilian.
- Since wine is an important component of people's culture, the history of wine probably reflects the history of this land as a whole. What do you say?
- This is fair enough. I think some of the grapes were brought by the Phoenicians in the 8th-7th century BC. Along with this, some secrets of winemaking probably arrived. It must be understood that there are many vines in Sicily, western vines differ from oriental ones. In eastern Sicily, from the VII-VI century BC, the Greek methods of viticulture "alberello" spread. Since then, wine has been produced in a traditional way for centuries. Furthermore, no doubt, the Byzantine culture has made a great contribution to the development of winemaking in Sicily.
Subsequently, as an industry, winemaking also had significant events, such as the birth of Marsala wine. In 1773, the Englishman Woodhouse landed at the port of Marsala, tasted Sicilian wine and began to experiment with it, adding his secrets on how to make wine stronger, for the more northerly populations this is relevant. Since then, Marsala wine has been a brilliant branch of winemaking. It has its own secrets of craftsmanship and wonderful properties of wine. Wine has been the main medicine for centuries and new wine varieties have emerged. Marsala was the first DOC wine in Italian wine history. Since then, the wine has clearly stood out for its place of origin, it is so important which land and whose hands produced it.
- Does this mean that wine is a symbol of Sicilian prosperity?
- Wine is more of a witness to the development of Sicily. In the first half of the twentieth century, like all agriculture, viticulture experienced difficult times. Working with the land requires constant attention and calmness, the twentieth century with its wars did not contribute to this. However, in the 50s of the 20th century, individual winemakers joined together in cooperatives and created large wineries. Since then, the Settesoli di Menfi Winery and the Trapani Cooperative Winery have survived. Anyone who comes to our Tourist Office in Custonaci can get to know our wine. Since the 70s, we can speak of a rebirth of the traditions of agriculture and winemaking in Sicily. Today, the industry is made up of millions of hectoliters of wine from around 110 thousand hectares of vineyards. But despite industrial development, we keep wine as our value, transferring the energy of our heart to it.
- Thanks, Nicolò. Sicilian wine for me is the best in the world.
Thanks, Elena, we're trying.
When I take a sip of Sicilian wine, I have a unique sensation. I feel a warm ray of joy rising from the region of my heart to my face and making me smile.
Quando bevo un sorso di vino siciliano, ho una sensazione unica. Sento che un caldo raggio di gioia sale dalla regione del mio cuore al mio viso e mi fa sorridere.
I rejoice every time I take my first sip of Sicilian wine.
Mi rallegro ogni volta che bevo il mio primo sorso di vino siciliano.
It is not like the first sip of another Italian wine, which can be excellent, it lies down with soft warmth, gently envelops, warms.
Non è come il primo sorso di un altro vino italiano, che può essere ottimo, si adagia con morbido tepore, avvolge dolcemente, riscalda.
But this ray of joy from the region of the heart to the face gives only Sicilian wine.
Ma questo raggio di gioia dalla regione del cuore al viso regala solo vino siciliano.
And then this feeling pours out with the second and third wave of tender joy somewhere upward, such overflows of joy, make a person light.
E poi questa sensazione si riversa con la seconda e la terza ondata di tenera gioia in direzione da qualche parte verso l'alto, tali trabocchi di gioia, rendono una persona leggera.
And this is not just my feelings, I asked others, they feel the same.
E questo non è solo i miei sentimenti, ho chiesto ad altri, provano lo stesso.
And we have tried to figure it out many times. For example, when we drank medium quality French wine that can be freely purchased in the store, at the same price as Sicilian and Italian wine, then French wine of the same category gives a completely different feeling.
E abbiamo cercato di capirlo molte volte. Ad esempio, quando abbiamo bevuto vino francese di media qualità che può essere acquistato liberamente in negozio, allo stesso prezzo come vino siciliano e italiano, allora il vino francese della stessa categoria dà una sensazione completamente diversa.
French wine floats somewhere on the outward level of sensation, without going inward, and you just try to cope with the wave that French wine causes externally, but it doesn't touch you internally.
Il vino francese remane da qualche parte al livello esteriore della sensazione, senza andare verso l'interno, e cerchi solo di far fronte all'onda che il vino francese provoca esternamente, ma non ti tocca internamente.
While Sicilian wine does not in any way limit the range of external sensations, it gives maximum freedom and lightness, just enjoy from the inside.
Mentre il vino siciliano non limita in alcun modo il ventaglio di sensazioni esterne, dona massima libertà e leggerezza, basta gioire dall'interno.
I would say that Sicilian wine is like a spiritual balm. French wine is more of a passion.
Direi che il vino siciliano è come un balsamo spirituale. Il vino francese è più una passione.
Continental Italian wine is, perhaps, tender, like a mother.
Il vino italiano continentale è, forse, tenero, come una madre.
But Sicilian wine gathers you and focuses you on the main joy, deeper and invigorates you, making you light.
Ma il vino siciliano ti raccoglie e ti concentra sulla gioia principale, più profonda e ti rinvigorisce, rendendoti leggero.
But I know very well that Sicilian wine can be different, there are many varieties, each with its own history.
So però benissimo che il vino siciliano è diverso, ce ne sono tante varietà, ognuna con la sua storia.
And this is all the more surprising because all Sicilian wine gives a feeling of joy and lightness from the inside.
E questo è tanto più sorprendente perché tutto il vino siciliano dà una sensazione di gioia e leggerezza dall'interno.
For me, it was a bit of a mystery, I wanted to try varieties of Sicilian wine and see the difference.
Per me era un po 'un mistero, volevo provare diverse varietà di vino siciliano e vedere la differenza.
Now I can say that, yes, it is different, but it has exactly this common property: joy from within, warmth, invigorating, not awkward.
Ora posso dire che, sì, è diverso, ma ha esattamente questa proprietà comune: gioia dall'interno, calore, rinvigorente, non imbarazzo.
I think this is probably due not even to the grape variety, but to the energy of the people who make the wine.
Penso che questo sia probabilmente dovuto non nemmeno al vitigno, ma all'energia delle persone che producono il vino.
Because each of our work carries a charge of energy that we transfer to it. We ask a Sicilian connoisseur about Sicilian wine, because Sicily is his home, Nicolò Reina, the manager of the Custonaci Tourist Office.
Perché ogni nostro lavoro porta una carica di energia che gli trasferiamo. Ma chiediamo del vino siciliano a un conoscitore della Sicilia, perché la Sicilia è la sua casa, Nicolò Reina, il dipendente dell'Ufficio Turistico di Custonaci.
- Hi, Nicolo.
- Ciao, Nicolò.
- Hello Elena.
- Ciao, Elena.
- Nicolo, wine is the important part of people's culture. The Holy Scriptures speak many times of wine, it is a very symbolic and useful product. I assume that wine has been a treasure of Sicilian culture since ancient times, what is known?
- Nicolò, il vino è la parte importante della cultura delle persone. Le Sacre Scritture parlano molte volte del vino, è un prodotto molto simbolico e utile. Presumo che il vino sia stato un tesoro della cultura siciliana fin dall'antichità, cosa si sa?
- Elena, you're right, wine is a very important part of people's culture. The remains found in the areas of Mount Kronio (Sciacca) and Sant'Ippolito (Caltagirone) are at least 6,000 years old.
- Elena, hai ragione, il vino è una parte molto importante della cultura delle persone. I resti rinvenuti nelle zone del monte Kronio (Sciacca) e Sant'Ippolito (Caltagirone) hanno almeno 6.000 anni.
That is, the wine of Sicily is one of the oldest on earth. The technology of making wine makes it a part of our life for a long time.
Cioè, il vino di Sicilia è uno dei più antichi della terra. La tecnologia di fare il vino lo rende partecipe della nostra vita per molto tempo.
The wine remains with us for several years, and in the same containers we plant a new harvest, and this is how the continuity of cultural traditions is achieved.
Il vino rimane con noi per diversi anni, e negli stessi contenitori piantiamo una nuova vendemmia, ed è così che si realizza la continuità delle tradizioni culturali.
Wine accompanies us in joy and difficulty, we obviously transmit the spiritual meanings of the events of our life to the wine.
Il vino ci accompagna nella gioia e nella difficoltà, noi, ovviamente, trasmettiamo al vino i significati spirituali degli eventi della nostra vita.
This can be felt when taking a sip of wine, although I admit that different people may perceive it differently. What do you think is the most impressive wine of Sicily?
Questo può essere sentito quando si beve un sorso di vino, anche se ammetto che persone diverse possano percepirlo in modo diverso.
Quale pensi sia il vino più impressionante della Sicilia?
- I think, of course, Nero D'Avola. This is an extraordinary wine, it really thrills the heart with its deep intonations and overflows with taste, color and aroma. Avola is located in the south-east of Sicily in the province of Syracuse.
- Penso che, ovviamente, Nero D'Avola. Questo è un vino straordinario, emoziona davvero il cuore con le sue intonazioni profonde e trabocca di gusto, colore e aroma. Avola si trova nel sud-est della Sicilia in provincia di Siracusa.
- Yes, yes. I remember this wine very well, this is a true volcano of taste, a powerful wave of energy pours into you with every sip, freeing you from worries.
- Si si. Ricordo molto bene questo vino, questo è un vero vulcano del gusto, una potente onda di energia si riversa in te ad ogni sorso, liberandoti da preoccupazioni.
You find yourself in another dimension of life after taking a sip of Nero. It remains in your attention, like a good conversationalist, and does not let you go.
Ti ritrovi in un'altra dimensione della vita dopo aver bevuto un sorso di Nero. Rimane nella tua attenzione, come un buon conversatore, e non ti lascia andare.
- Probably yes. But you know that there are other excellent wines from the grapes that grow on the slopes of Etna.
- Probabilmente sì. Ma sai che ci sono altri ottimi vini dalle uve che crescono alle pendici dell'Etna.
Obviously Etna gives the grapes both a richness of taste, since the slopes of the volcano have an extremely rich soil, and a sparkling energy.
Ovviamente l'Etna conferisce all'uva sia una ricchezza di gusto, poiché le pendici del vulcano hanno un suolo estremamente ricco, sia una frizzante energia.
Etna attracts people from all over the world like a magnet, with its beauty and its powerful energy.
L'Etna attira persone da tutto il mondo come una calamita, con la sua bellezza e la sua potente energia.
Etna is like an affectionate mother, it gives us joy, gladdens our heart and enriches our land.
Etna - come una madre affettuosa, ci dà gioia, allieta il nostro cuore, arricchisce la nostra terra.
I fully understand that this is passed on to the wines we make and drink.
Capisco perfettamente che questo viene trasmesso ai vini che produciamo e beviamo.
Spiritually, this is a single cultural whole: our land, our vine cultivation and wine.
Spiritualmente, questo è un unico insieme culturale: la nostra terra, la nostra coltivazione della vite e il vino.
On the slopes of Etna are also grown Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, red grapes, they are beautiful.
Alle pendici dell'Etna si coltivano anche Nerello Mascalese e Nerello Cappuccio, uve rosse, sono bellissime.
But there are also some amazing white grapes that can give you that feeling of radiant joy from within, you described.
Ma ci sono anche alcune incredibili uve bianche che possono darti quella sensazione di gioia radiosa dall'interno che hai descritto.
This is the Carricante. And there are, of course, this wonderful wine of the Grillo and Catarratto varieties.
Questo è il Carricante. E lì, ovviamente, questo meraviglioso vino delle varietà Grillo e Catarratto.
- You know, I wasn't a big fan of white wines until I tasted Sicilian wines. Grillo and Catarratto are truly fantastic, unique, unlike anything else. You cannot forget the taste of these wines, everything else vanishes.
- Sai, non ero un grande fan dei vini bianchi finché non ho assaggiato i vini siciliani. Grillo e Catarratto sono davvero fantastici, unici, a differenza di qualsiasi altra cosa. Non puoi dimenticare il gusto di questi vini, tutto il resto svanisce.
- This is probably the case, because Catarratto often becomes a part of the composition of continental Italian wines. Today, the province of Trapani alone produces 10% of Italian wine, although only 20% is labeled as Sicilian.
- Probabilmente è così, perché il Catarratto diventa spesso una parte della composizione dei vini dell'Italia continentale. Oggi la sola provincia di Trapani produce il 10% del vino italiano, anche se solo il 20% è etichettato come siciliano.
- Since wine is an important component of people's culture, the history of wine probably reflects the history of this land as a whole. What do you say?
- Poiché il vino è una componente importante della cultura delle persone, la storia del vino riflette probabilmente la storia di questa terra nel suo complesso. Che ne dici?
- This is fair enough. I think some of the grapes were brought by the Phoenicians in the 8th-7th century BC.
- Questo è abbastanza giusto. Penso che alcune delle uve siano state portate dai Fenici nell'VIII-VII secolo a.C.
Along with this, some secrets of winemaking probably arrived. It must be understood that there are many vines in Sicily, western vines differ from oriental ones.
Insieme a questo sono arrivati, probabilmente, alcuni segreti della vinificazione. Bisogna capire che i vitigni in Sicilia sono tanti, i vitigni occidentali differiscono da quelli orientali.
In eastern Sicily, from the VII-VI century BC, the Greek methods of viticulture "alberello" spread.
Nella Sicilia orientale, dal VII-VI secolo aC, si diffusero i metodi greci della vitivinicoltura - "alberello".
Since then, wine has been produced in a traditional way for centuries. Furthermore, no doubt, the Byzantine culture has made a great contribution to the development of winemaking in Sicily.
Da allora, il vino è stato prodotto in modo tradizionale per secoli. Inoltre, senza dubbio, la cultura bizantina ha dato un grande contributo allo sviluppo della vinificazione in Sicilia.
Subsequently, as an industry, winemaking also had significant events, such as the birth of Marsala wine.
Successivamente, come industria, la vinificazione ha avuto anche eventi significativi, come la nascita del vino Marsala.
In 1773, the Englishman Woodhouse landed at the port of Marsala, tasted Sicilian wine and began to experiment with it, adding his secrets on how to make wine stronger, for the more northerly populations this is relevant.
Nel 1773, l'inglese Woodhouse sbarcò al porto di Marsala, assaggiò il vino siciliano e iniziò a sperimentarlo, aggiungendo i suoi segreti su come rendere il vino più forte, per le popolazioni più settentrionali questo è rilevante.
Since then, Marsala wine has been a brilliant branch of winemaking. It has its own secrets of craftsmanship and wonderful properties of wine.
Da allora, il vino Marsala è stato un ramo brillante della vinificazione. Ha i suoi segreti di artigianato e meravigliose proprietà del vino.
Wine has been the main medicine for centuries and new wine varieties have emerged.
Il vino è stato per secoli la medicina principale e sono emerse nuove varietà di vino.
Marsala was the first DOC wine in Italian wine history. Since then, the wine has clearly stood out for its place of origin, it is so important which land and whose hands produced it.
Il Marsala è stato il primo vino DOC della storia vinicola italiana. Da allora, il vino si è chiaramente distinto per il suo luogo di origine, è così importante quale terra e le cui mani lo hanno prodotto.
- Does this mean that wine is a symbol of Sicilian prosperity?
- Questo significa che il vino è un simbolo della prosperità della Sicilia?
- Wine is more of a witness to the development of Sicily. In the first half of the twentieth century, like all agriculture, viticulture experienced difficult times.
- Il vino è più un testimone dello sviluppo della Sicilia. Nella prima metà del XX secolo, come tutta l'agricoltura, la viticoltura ha conosciuto tempi difficili.
Working with the land requires constant attention and calmness, the twentieth century with its wars did not contribute to this.
Lavorare con la terra richiede attenzione e calma costanti, il XX secolo con le sue guerre non ha contribuito a questo.
However, in the 50s of the 20th century, individual winemakers joined together in cooperatives and created large wineries.
Tuttavia, negli anni '50 del XX secolo, singoli viticoltori si unirono in cooperative e crearono grandi cantine.
Since then, the Settesoli di Menfi Winery and the Trapani Cooperative Winery have survived.
Da allora sono sopravvissute la Cantina Settesoli di Menfi e la Cantina Cooperativa Trapani.
Anyone who comes to our Tourist Office in Custonaci can get to know our wine.
Chiunque venga nel nostro Ufficio Turistico di Custonaci può conoscere il nostro vino.
Since the 70s, we can speak of a rebirth of the traditions of agriculture and winemaking in Sicily.
Dagli anni '70 si può parlare di rinascita delle tradizioni dell'agricoltura e della vinificazione in Sicilia.
Today, the industry is made up of millions of hectoliters of wine from around 110 thousand hectares of vineyards.
Oggi l'industria è costituita da milioni di ettolitri di vino provenienti da circa 110mila ettari di vigneto.
But despite industrial development, we keep wine as our value, transferring the energy of our heart to it.
Ma nonostante lo sviluppo industriale, manteniamo il vino come nostro valore, trasferendogli l'energia del nostro cuore.
- Thanks, Nicolò. Sicilian wine for me is the best in the world.
- Grazie, Nicolò. Il vino di Sicilia per me è il migliore del mondo.
Thanks, Elena, we're trying.
Grazie, Elena, ci stiamo provando.
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