Sicily Cantina Paolini

We've been researching Sicilian wines for more than three years now; we've tasted here in London, we've asked for samples, we've ploughed through the Slow Wine Guide (Aljoscha at Corzano kindly gave us his copy), and we had the great good fortune, during this research period, to get to know Gianfranco Maltese, a young winemaker and oenologist from Marsala. So, when it came to finding a really good source of inexpensive but top quality house wine, we knew exactly whom to ask. Gianfranco met us in a square on the outskirts of Marsala (shades of The Godfather, to our feverish imaginations) and we went in his car to Gurgo. Not only is he a consultant winemaker but he also sells his own grapes to Cantina Paolini, so we are very much getting the best of both worlds. This visit was pretty much the last of our trip, but Simon and I knew almost instantly that we wanted to work with these wines and these winemakers. Gratifyingly, when the team at Pratt Walk tasted for the first time, they agreed with our original assessment.

We've selected four indigenous Sicilian varietals, two whites and two reds, Inzolia and Grillo, and Nero d'Avola and Frappato, and we think they'll all make sensational house wines. And just as importantly, they're tremendous value for money.

Wines

http://www.cantinapaolini.it/

< Back to previous page

Print this page