May 29, 2020

TASCA d’ALMERITA “Mozia” 2018

(Sicily, Italy) $22

Full of delicious personality, Mozia is a fantastic white wine from the tiny island of Mozia just off the Sicilian coast. The island, one of the most important and historic Phoenician settlements in the Mediterranean, is where the color purple was first created (from sea shells). The wine Mozia has a sea spray freshness, snappy crispness, and a core of creamy peachiness. Made from the Sicilian variety grillo, Mozia comes from 40-year-old vines. I can’t think of a better (or better priced) summer white. For its part, Tasca d’Almerita, one of the top Sicilian producers (they own Regaleali), has been at the forefront of saving Sicily’s ancient indigenous varieties. (13.5% abv)

92 points KM

Available at Vivino.com

What is scuppernong?

A. The plastic material that barrel bungs are made from

B. A local South African name for chenin blanc

C. A vine disease that can affect grapevines that have been exposed to extreme heat

D. A grape native to the American south

Scuppernong grapes are extremely large, round, greenish-bronze grapes that belong to the North American species Vitis rotundifolia, also known as the muscadine species. The name comes from the Scuppernong River in North Carolina, along which the grapes once grew profusely. Scuppernong grapes are, in fact, the state’s official fruit. They were first cultivated in the 17th century. Today, home winemakers in the South often use scuppernongs, although many consider the grapes better-suited to jelly than wine.

A Remarkable Ascent

Curiously, some of the world’s most powerful organizations start out the most humbly. In the world of wine, there’s no better example than the Napa Valley Vintners which began 77 years ago as a modest… Continue reading

TASCA d’ALMERITA “Mozia” 2018

Get WineSpeed