We have returned from the wonderful South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival and there is much to share with you about the wines and spirits that we tasted over the Festival’s four days. However, before we dive into that experience, I would like to share a wine included in the May selection from the Accent on Wine club.

The Caruso & Minini 2016 Frappato, Nerello Mascalese is a Sicilian product that validates the current image of Sicily as a region capable of generating excellent wine. The Sicily DOC supports nearly 100 producers and there are over 3,000 grape growers resulting in more than 20 million bottles produced. Many of those 20 million bottles are exported.

However, as recently as three decades ago wines from Sicily were either fortified or Marsala. Sicily was significantly impacted by the phylloxera epidemic. But, a significant investment, a willingness to embrace indigenous grapes, and wines that offer excellent flavor packages at even better prices, have made the wines of Sicily worth seeking.

The Mediterranean climate (Caruso & Minini is one the western-most coast – ironically near the town of Marsala), is ideal for the growth of excellent wine grapes. The rocky soil that is rich in organic substances, resides at nearly 1000 feet above sea level, and dominates the nearly 300 acres of the winery’s estate grapes.

The Caruso family has been in the wine business for four generations, and for most of those generations they focused on growing grapes. The family began bottling their vinified grapes in the mid-1990s and in 2004 Mario Minini, of Lombardy, joined the Caruso’s in the current winery.

Caruso & Minini’s 2016 Frappato and Nerello Mascalese is a product of Sicily’s indigenous grape production. The DNA study of both grapes suggests an historic connection between those grapes and the king of Tuscan grapes, Sangiovese (and some other unidentified varietal). The Accent on Wine selection offers 15% Frappato providing the wine with a fresh (and ironically, a grapey nose), and the rest Nerello Mascalese offers a hint of vanilla and excellent tannins.

This wine also offers excellent balance. There is a wonderful acidity (a little tingle on the tongue), fresh fruit that Vinny of Accent on Wine suggests provides  “bright black cherries, red roses, and cloves” (excellent description). The nose suggests floral elements and the fruit extends from the palate through the finish.

This wine is excellent with cheese-based dishes, and we found the 2016 Caruso and Minini to be a wonderful addition to left-over Mac and Cheese.

This wine is not widely distributed. However, you can find it at Accent on Wine. And, even if you cannot track down the Caruso & Minini, talk with your local wine shop about their Sicilian options…you will not regret it.