Donnafugata pays tribute to Giacomo Tachis, dedicating this edition of Vinitaly to “his” Mille e una Notte, a wine representative of an innovative Sicily.
Love, dreams and imagination all played a part in the creation of Mille e una Notte, brought to life as the result of a challenge that Giacomo Rallo– the founder of the winery – set out to accomplish with Giacomo Tachis: to produce a great red wine at Donnafugata’s Contessa Entellina estate.
What aspired to become an elegant wine with a great longevity, was first bottled in 1995. Mille e una Notte has become a symbol of Italian excellence all over the world and for Donnafugata, the time has come to pay tribute to its creator.
A tribute to Tachis that will reach its climax during the great tasting event organised by Vinitaly and scheduled for Wednesday 13th April. Twelve of “his” most well-known wines will be tasted, including Tignanello, Sassicaia, Turriga and Mille e una Notte. Antonio Rallo – the wine maker of this family-owned wine estate – will present the 1999 vintage of Donnafugata’s red wine.
“We would like to dedicate this 50th edition of Vinitaly – said Antonio Rallo – to the most important red wine we produce and to Giacomo Tachis, a wine maker and passionate humanist. His work lives on in the wines that most inspired him, giving them a place in history. We would like to express our gratitude and share this with our admirers at the most important exhibition for Italian wine.”
Donnafugata has recently reinterpreted its range of wines based on the sensorial and emotional experiences expressed by its enthusiasts and Vinitaly has also been chosen as the ideal occasion to showcase this development: Mille e una Notte belongs to the collection of “iconic wines”, a range reflecting the land of its origin and highlighting the tailored approach adopted by the Estate. Mille e una Notte responds to the desire for an exclusive and unforgettable tasting experience as well as the wish of a unique and collectible wine.
In the quest to achieve the best possible interaction between grape varieties and terroir, the blend used to create Mille e una Notte has evolved over time and now consists of Nero d’Avola, bearing the promise of fresh, fruity notes, Petit Verdot, selected for body and elegance and Syrah, chosen for its spicy, complex scents. A selection distinctive for its small yields: about one kg of healthy grapes of excellent quality from each vine.
For the delight of both operators and enthusiasts, three vintages of Mille e una Notte will be presented for tasting at the Sicilian winery’s booth: the current vintage – from the 2011 harvest – and two vintages no longer on sale, namely 2006 and 1998, proof of how well the wine keeps over time. A delicious and surprising pairing has also been created with Mille e una Notte and pralines made by the master chocolatier Guido Gobino using extra-bitter, cardamom flavoured dark chocolate.
Donnafugata will bring to Vinitaly a story full of emotion, starring Mille e una Notte in the lead role, with a personality that is as unique as its label: created by Gabriella Rallo, who founded the company together with her husband Giacomo, it depicts a night in Sicily with shiny, golden stars dotted around the Palazzo del Gattopardo. The name of the wine, derived from the collection of stories known as One Thousand and One Nights, is evocative of the Middle East and also brings to mind the aspect of this wine that is most appreciated: the breadth of expression of a red wine capable of developing over time, harvest after harvest, pleasing and winning over everyone who tastes it.
PUBLIC RELATION
Baldo M. Palermo [email protected] phone +39 0923 724226
Laura Ellwanger: [email protected] phone. +39 0923 724258
PRESS OFFICE
Nando Calaciura [email protected] mob. +39 338 3229837