Babalú, Bianco, Sicily, Italy

Producer Profile

Sicily has the perfect geography and climate to be able to grow healthy, ripe grapes and produce high quality wines.

The Babalù vineyard sites are situated at an altitude of approximately 200-300m. The altitude helps ensure cooler nighttime temperatures which preserve crucial acidity in the grapes. The prevailing winds naturally limit the yield, and the wines tend to be harvested earlier than many of their neighbours and consequently are bright and fresh. The Rosso delivers plenty of ripe, plum like fruit and the Bianco particularly displays the crisp, citrus laced fruit filled style that is so familiar from this region.

Viticulture

A combination of hand and machine harvested grapes. Yields are naturally limited by the winds and climatic conditions on the island and average around 7 tonnes per hectare. Vineyard sites are situated at an altitude of 200-300m, ensuring cooler night-time temperatures which preserve crucial acidity in the grapes. The average age of the vineyards are 15 years old. These wines tend to be harvested earlier than many of their neighbours and consequently they are bright and fresh with no baked flavours.

Winemaking

Harvested in the cool of the morning for maximum preservation of fresh fruit flavours. Gentle pressing in a pneumatic press followed by overnight cold maceration to extract all the aromatics from the grapes. Fermented at 14C in stainless steel, temperature-controlled tanks. Left on the lees with occasional battonage enhance the texture and complexity of the wine. The wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation to ensure it is bright, fresh and zippy.

Tasting Note

Punchy tropical peach and pineapple aromas leap out of the glass. These flavours continue onto the palate joined by lovely ripe pear and a lick of acidity to balance the ripe fruit.

Food Matching

Best with antipasti, Sicilian fish dishes and risotto.