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Pantelleria

A volcanic island belonging to Sicily (ancient Cossyra) with a land area of 83 km², located around 100 kilometres southwest of Sicily and 6 kilometres east of Cape Bon in Tunisia. It is famous for its capers, which grow particularly well here. The Phoenicians are said to have brought the Zibibbo (here synonymous with Muscat d'Alexandrie) to the island and dedicated the pressed wine to their favourite goddess Tanit. This dominant variety is still almost exclusively cultivated here today. Typical wines are high-alcohol, sweet passito wines made from sun-dried grapes. The first wines of this type were produced from 1880 and won a medal at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris.

The climate is subtropical and hot and dry, which is further intensified by the hot wind from the Sahara, the Scirocco, which carries fine sand dust with it. In order to minimise the damage caused by the strong wind erosion, there are small, terraced plots on the slopes, which are also protected by stone walls. The vines are planted in hollows in the ground (Conca) and cultivated in the Albarello system (small trees) without support. The DOC area covers the entire island. Originally, only the two wines Moscato di Pantelleria and Passito di Pantelleria had DOC status. In 2011, other wines from the island were then also classified and all grouped together under DOC Pantelleria.

All wines are made from the Zibibo variety. The alcohol produced for the spriting of Liquoroso wines must also come from this variety. The Bianco (also known as Frizzante) must contain at least 85% of it. The other wines are sparkling wines and liqueur wines(Liquoroso) fortified to 16% vol. and more, which are produced 100% single-varietal. In addition to the two main wines already mentioned, these are Pantelleria Moscato Spumante, Pantelleria Moscato Dorato, Pantelleria Moscato Liquoroso, Pantelleria Passito Liquoroso and Pantelleria Zibibo Dolce. Many IGP wines are also produced on the island. Three well-known major producers are Donnafugata, Florio and Pellegrino.

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Sigi Hiss
freier Autor und Weinberater (Fine, Vinum u.a.), Bad Krozingen

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