Babalú, Bianco, Sicily, Italy

Producer Profile

Despite its southerly location, Sicily’s topography and island climate create the ideal conditions in which to grow healthy, ripe grapes and produce high quality wines.

Babalù’s vineyards are situated at an altitude of approximately 200-300m, which ensures cooler night-time temperatures during the hot summer growing season that help to preserve the crucial acidity of the grapes. The prevailing winds also naturally limit the yield, and Babalù’s grapes tend to be harvested earlier than those of their neighbours, keeping the wines bright and fresh. The Rosso delivers plenty of ripe, plum-like fruit, while the Bianco in particular displays the crisp, citrus- laced fruit-filled style characteristic of 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.