2_Vinitaly-BellAssai-Frappato-ENG-Copia.doc
At Vinitaly the debut wine of Donnafugata’s project in eastern Sicily. A Frappato di Vittoria with great freshness and soft tannins, a fragrant red that amazes with its immediate pleasantness.
Vinitaly in Verona will be the stage where Donnafugata will present Bell’Assai 2016 Frappato di Vittoria DOC.
This is the debut wine of the project with which the company is present in eastern Sicily to produce wines under the prestigious Etna DOC, Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG and Frappato di Vittoria DOC denominations.
“They are productions of great tradition – says Antonio Rallo, head of the company together with his sister José – that allow us to propose the excellence of Sicilian wine from different territories; in addition to our historic commitment at Contessa Entellina, in the heart of western Sicily, and on the island of Pantelleria, with the 2016 harvest we have therefore launched the production on Etna and in the Vittoria area. We are very confident: Bell’Assai will be a delightful discovery.”
“The name Bell’Assai – José Rallo explains – is that of the girl depicted on the artistic label with which we wanted to celebrate the love for the beautiful. Inspired by my mother Gabriella and designed by Stefano Vitale, it depicts the young Bell’Assai, a girl of character who is offering the fruits of the vineyard and the scents of the countryside to the sweet Sicilian breeze. She represents the spirit of those enterprising families, lovers of beauty that have always animated the territory of Vittoria.”
Vittoria is a zone that is highly suitable for winegrowing, located between the Hyblean plateau and the sea in south-east Sicily. Here – in the territory of Acate – Donnafugata manages about 18 hectares of vineyards in production with 11 hectares of Nero d’Avola and 7 of Frappato.
Frappato is one of the most ancient Sicilian grape varieties: it loves the warm temperate and dry climate, the cluster is compact, with thin-skinned berries that have a high concentration of aromatic components (terpenes).
Bell’Assai is a single variety Frappato that has a brilliant ruby red color with violet reflections, a fragrant bouquet with strawberries, raspberries and flowery scents of violets and roses. In the mouth it surprises with its great freshness, soft tannins and immediate pleasantness.
Bell’Assai 2016 – the preview tasting is at Vinitaly – will be available on the market in May; Donnafugata has also started the production of a Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG that will instead be presented in September.
Baldo M. Palermo [email protected] tel. +39 0923 724226
Laura Ellwanger [email protected] tel +39 0923 724258
