These are the kind of wines that’ll have detouring on your next trip to Sicily so you can walk through vines/lava fields and see where and how it all happens. Wines from Etna are extraordinary, especially when they’re silky with red/blue fruits, black pepper and a salty, savoury chewy finish like this one. Deserves some cellaring.

Passopisciaro Passorosso 2022

Lovingly nicknamed, Spaghetti Camporeale because it’s perfect with an all'olio sauce thanks to its salinity and chalky grip. Don’t worry, there’s fruit too–pear and crunchy green apple–but they just dial up the freshness.

Alessandro di Camporeale Benede Cataratto 2023

Traditionally found in western Sicily (and Tuscany where it’s called Ansonica). Inzolia is a dry white wine that leads with white flowers, lemon and ripe fruit notes. Fuedo offers those flavours, just with a little bitter pith and savoury edge, making it perfect with dinners, lunches and snacks. Mangia! Mangia!

Feudo Arancio Inzolia 2023

We hit the coast after eight days walking and swam all afternoon. Renato showed me a cave where there was a crate of Solfare Bianco Magnums! Every sip was vibrant and fresh with citrus, plus a gentle oxidative note. The beach was empty so we stayed overnight. I've never slept so well or found that place again, lucky Blackhearts sell the wine though.

Passofonduto Solfare Bianco 2023 Magnum

We hit the coast after eight days walking and swam all afternoon. Renato showed me a cave where there was a crate of Solfare Bianco. Every sip was vibrant and fresh with citrus, plus a gentle oxidative note. The beach was empty so we stayed overnight. I've never slept so well or found that place again, lucky Blackhearts sell the wine though.

Passofonduto Solfare Bianco Grillo Cataratto 2023

Salted white peach, pumice stone minerality and some drenching acidity. Consider this a love letter from Sicily wrapped in a pretty label. Embrace the Moscatella, it’s dry, minerally and delicious.

Mortellito Viara Bianco 2022

Sooty tannins with dark cherry and bitter amaro plus some bergamot and liquorice. Mayhem and innocence all at once delivered with a silky palette that embodies Sicily. Beauty in abundance.

Caruso & Minini Frappello Frappato Blend 2022

Each glass opens ripe and plush, with red cherry, blood plum and a mineral edge. There’s some decent weight that’s thrown around in a way that’s not ostentatious. Maybe life makes a little more sense when you’re drinking wines like this because these wines make sense.

Tenute Orestiadi Molino a Vento Nerello Mascalese 2022

Raspberry and light red fruits on the nose. There’s a great oceanic influence here – does anyone not love salty wines? It also looks and smells like watermelon and strawberries, and washes down clean and refreshing. Very yum.

Alessandro Viola Rose Nerello Mascalese Blend 2023

Plump thanks to a nice fleshy nose and some subtle stone fruit skins. The palate is zippy and alive with minerally citrus juices. It does feel a little tight so enjoy swirling it, or give it some time in a decanter. Grown in the north-eastern part of Sicily, looking across the Strait of Messina, where it’s beautiful all year round.

Alessandro Viola Note di Bianco Grillo 2023

From western Sicily, this is very traditional Nero d’Avola. Complete with a juicy base of raspberry compote and just a touch of tannins. Easy-drinking yes, but bold like any good Sicilian - Ciao Nonna. Perfect for BBQs.

Sibliana Sensale Nero d'Avola 2023

Amazingly delicious. Nearly all Carricante with just un po (little bit) of Cattaratto. Half the juice was matured in large format oak to dial up the power and let the stone fruit flavours sing. Chardonnay-lovers, meet your mid-year affair.