Catarratto

Sicily's most-planted grape; rising serious bottlings.

Catarratto is Sicily's most-planted white grape, used historically as a Marsala blender and cooperative bulk wine. Quality replanting and lower yields have begun producing serious dry varietal Catarratto with apple, citrus, and a slight bitter-almond finish. Old bush-vine plantings on the warm western Sicilian plains, sometimes co-fermented with Grillo or Inzolia, yield the most distinctive bottlings. The grape is genetically related to several other Sicilian varieties including Grillo.