White Wines
Donnafugata Lighea 2019

Donnafugata Lighea 2019

This week we will present four different wines from the Donnafugata winery, all available from S. Rausi Trading. The Donnafugata Lighea is a white wine from the Zibibbo grape, produced using grape drying methodology.

From the producer (Donnafugata):

DENOMINATION
Zibibbo Sicilia DOC

PRODUCTION ZONE
Island of Pantelleria (South-Western Sicily)

TASTING NOTES
Lighea 2019 has a bright straw yellow color with greenish reflections. The nose offers a rich and fragrant bouquet where the typical notes of orange blossom merge with hints of citrus (cedar and bergamot) and exotic fruit (lychee). The fruity and floral notes return in the mouth accompanied by a marked freshness, with good persistence and a pleasant mineral finish.

VINTAGE
Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria)

SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Ideally served at 9 – 11°C/48 – 52°F°

Lighea_2
Donnafugata Lighea chilled and ready to be enjoyed by itself or over a typical Mediterranean dish
About Zibibbo (Donnafugata)

Originally from North Africa, it successively spread around the Mediterranean basin. Object of intense cultivation in the territories conquered by the Arabs as a table grape and for drying.

The name Zibibbo comes from the Arabic “Zabīb” which means dried grape. Hundreds of years ago this grape variety was brought to Pantelleria by the Arabs. In the hot, dry and windy climate of this island of volcanic origin, Zibibbo, alberello- trained, finds the ideal conditions for concentrating a treasure trove of sugars and developing an array of olfactory notes that are incomparable. It is also used to produce aromatic dry wines.

About Donnafugata (Vivino)

Donnafugata was created in Sicily through the initiative of a family that, with passion, innovated the style and perception of Sicilian wine in the world. Giacomo Rallo – the fourth generation of a family with 160 years of experience in quality wine – founded Donnafugata in 1983 together with his wife Gabriella, and continued to follow the winery with great foresight until his death in May 2016.

Today the fifth generation – José and Antonio – leads a team of people of high competence and strongly motivated to represent the excellence of Made in Italy in the world, always accepting new challenges.
Donnafugata has 3 historic production premises in Sicily. The ancient family cellars in Marsala, where the bottling and aging processes take place. The Contessa Entellina winery, in the heart of western Sicily, with vineyards (283 hectares) and olive groves (9 hectares). The Khamma winery on Pantelleria, volcanic island between Sicily and Africa, with vineyards planted to Zibibbo (68 hectares) cultivated alberello pantesco (UNESCO World Heritage).

With the 2016 harvest, Donnafugata realizes a dream cultivated for a long time: produce, in eastern Sicily, wines under the prestigious Etna, Cerasuolo and Frappato di Vittoria denominations, counting respectively on 18 hectares (44 acres) of vineyards and a vinification cellar in Randazzo on the northern slope of the volcano, and 36 hectares (88 acres) in Acate, classic territory of the denomination. A project that wants to propose the excellence of Sicilian wine from different territories, all of them with extraordinary potential.

The name Donnafugata, which means “donna in fuga” (woman in flight), is taken from the novel Il Gattopardo (The Leopard) and refers to the story of a queen who found refuge where the company’s vineyards are located today. An adventure that also inspired the corporate logo. Today the company’s icon wines are the reds Mille e una Notte, Fragore and the naturally sweet wine Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria DOC.

Other Donnafugata reviews

Read our posts on Donnafugata Sul Vulcano and Donnafugata La Bella Sedara.