Today’s episode features Maze Row Wine Merchant’s esteemed partner, Tornatore, which is produced on Sicily’s Mount Etna. Yes, that Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. In fact, the Tornatore family started growing grapes in Etna in 1865, making them the most established wine-growing families there. To try Tornatore wine, follow the link in the episode description to TheBarrelRoom.com, where you’ll find Rosso, Red, and Bianco White wine.And to this day, 86 percent of Sicilian wine is bulk. But the thing is, this bulk thing had to happen to get to where we are right now. It’s very exciting. And really the big moment was between the ‘60s and the ‘80s. I know it’s a few decades there, but between that time bulk wine was a major part of Sicily.
And what was happening here was there were international varieties in Sicily, but there are also all these native varieties in Sicily. And after the ‘80s, a lot of regions in the world that make wine, and Europe specifically, the ‘80s were a reckoning. It was a moment where it was like, “Okay, we gotta stop doing what we were doing and we need to change what we’re doing for the future and bring this into the modern era.” And Sicily’s way of doing so was blending their international varieties with their local varieties.
And that is also part of Sicily’s identity. So what Sicily is for us is a place that was known for bulk wine. Meanwhile, always great winemakers while that’s happening, that pivot to quality in the 1980s is what we’re enjoying right now in Sicily. It’s a great time to enjoy Sicilian wine because of this. So I hope this gives you a nice roundness, a nice general idea of Sicily. There’s a lot of other DOCs out there and if you see one on the American market, grab it and try it. And then in Solvang CA, which include a range of exquisite wines ranging from rare vintageones to new bridle ones to help you branch out and discover new, unique tastes.
Our wine tour packages also include a delicious dinner in the vine, and small group tours so you can enjoy your privacy. What makes the tour more memorable is the added advantage of the scenic views that Solvang offers.