Planeta Brings New Finesse, Respect to Sicilian Wines

Wine has been made in Sicily since at least the fifth century B.C., but it's taken about 2,500 years to get it right.

Even 20 years ago, Sicily was known mainly for Marsala and dessert wines, while many of the region's cooperatives deliberately overproduced wine so it could be distilled into industrial alcohol, as allowed under EU laws.

Only a handful of Sicilian wineries, like Duca di Salaparuta and Regaleali, used modern technology to produce premium varietals, and only in 1995 did the Planeta family, with landholdings in Sambuca di Sicilia since the 1600s, produce its first commercial vintage -- a highly successful chardonnay and a fiano.

Now, after a dozen years, the Planetas also make wines at their estates at Menfi (syrah, merlot), Vittoria (nero d'avola, frappato) and Noto (nero d'avola, moscato bianco). In that short time, the Planeta company has helped bring Sicilian wines, both traditional and new varietals, considerable respect in the international market.

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