Sicilia DOC Grillo Passiperduti 2024 (750 ml.) Donnafugata

THE WINE

'Passiperduti' by Donnafugata is a pure Grillo that originates in south-western Sicily, in the Contessa Entellina estate and neighboring territories, at an altitude of 400 to 500 m above sea level, with a climate of dry and windy summers with strong temperature variations between day and night. The wine ages in tanks for three months and at least three months in the bottle. The nose is broad and deep with floral notes of lavender and broom; the bouquet is enriched with notes of tropical fruits and citrus scents (lime and candied citron). On the palate it has good structure and is savory, mineral and persistent; it is a wine of marked complexity and elegance. It pairs perfectly with refined appetizers, raw fish and shellfish, vegetarian dishes and white meats.

Curiosity

The name and label recall the serenity we feel when we contemplate nature. Passiperduti is a poetic and elegant wine capable of evoking some of the most representative verses of Italian literature: The Infinite by Giacomo Leopardi. «This steep hill and this hedge have always been dear to me, ...But as I sit and gaze at the endless spaces beyond it,...the eternal comes to mind,...and shipwreck is sweet to me in this sea."

THE COMPANY

The name Donnafugata, literally ‘woman in flight’ refers to the history of Queen Maria Carolina, wife of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, who fled Naples in the early 1800s on the arrival of Napoleon’s troops, seeking refuge in the part of Sicily where the winery's vineyards now stand. This event inspired the Donnafugata logo, the effigy of a  woman’s head with windblown hair found on every bottle. It was Sicilian author Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa in his novel Il Gattopardo (The Leopard) who gave the name Donnafugata to the country estates of the Prince of Salina. The estate was where the queen stayed, and it now holds the winery’s vineyards.

THE WINERIES

Donnafugata believes that great wine reflects the land of its origin. Nature of the soil, exposure, altitude, climat and vines are the principle variables for producing wines which express their belonging to unique terroirs. After choosing the right grapes for a terroir, targeted viticulture carefully and sensitively “reads” the vineyard in its interaction with the environment to bring the grapes at their qualitative peak. Frequent on-site grape tastings make it possible to pinpoint the ideal time for harvesting each individual vineyard. Vinification processes use simple technology respecting the integrity of the grapes, musts and wines. Through continual tastings the technical staff checks on sensorial goals linked to the fruit and the terroir. Intervening on the processes underway in vineyard and cellar, year after year precision enology redefines the boundaries of quality. The staff is composed of close-working experts (agronomist, enologist, quality-control manager, cellar personnel and vineyard overseers) who accompany the production process to ensure that nature takes its course in the best.

The Contessa Entellina winery is located in the charming countryside of western Sicily, where vineyards are an integral part of the landscape. Donnafugata cultivates in 10 different terroirs a plurality of native and international varieties. A winegrowing choice to valorize the particular features (soil, altitude, exposure) of the different areas and produce wines of personality, fruit character, elegance, and finesse.