2017 Le Casematte Peloro Bianco Terre Siciliane IGT

A White Born of Soil, Sunshine, and Sea Spray

We all know that wine has the power to transport the drinker—and believe us, you want to go where the 2017 Le Casematte Peloro Bianco Terre Siciliane IGT takes you: One sip of this mineral-rich, laser-focused white, and you’re on the arresting slopes or northern Sicily, tempted to reach across the Strait of Messina and touch the dramatic Calabrian coast.

Le Casematte proprietor Gianfranco Sabbatino is a gregarious native of the nearby city of Messina, and the exquisitely concentrated and saline-rich Peloro Bianco is taste of northern Sicilian purity, with one tiny exception: Sabbatino summoned two-time Wine Enthusiast Winemaker of the Year Carlo Ferrini from Tuscany to bring the best out in his beloved Sicilian varieties.

That plan has worked like a charm: Showing subtle stone fruit character, striking mineral and saline characteristics, and a mouthfeel that Wine Advocate calls “incredibly sharp and focused,” the Peloro Bianco is the kind of wine that only bright sunshine, volcanic soils, and proximity to the sea can produce. Pair it with caponata or seafood—or simply with a sunny day—and you’ll feel like you’re enjoying a lazy day in Messina. With its flinty notes, impeccable balance, and incredible price, this is the perfect wine to keep you refreshed all summer. 

The land upon which Casematte sits features a pair of defensive concrete bunkers, which date to WWII and stand hauntingly over the vines at night, testifying to the land’s dramatic history. Now, the most dramatic thing about the 25-acre vineyard is its slope, which comes close to 70 degrees in places, making hand-harvesting a must. The Grillo and Carricante grapes that go into Peloro Bianco are then vinified in stainless steel vats, and rested for just three months before leaving the winery: In other words, every step in the process is geared toward keeping focus and freshness front and center.

The result is lightning in a bottle. Peloro Bianco is super-sharp mineral beauty from one of the Sicilian estates that Vinous says experts and collectors have their eye on: It packs the best of the island of Sicily—the volcanic soil, the sunshine, and the sea spray—into one delicious bottle. Don’t miss out on this one.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Sweetness
• Acidity

• ABV 13.00%
• Enjoy right away
• Drink Up
• 65% Grillo35% Carricante
• Serving temperature – 45°
• Cork