Tasca Leone D’Almerita, Tenuta Regeali

Description

Tasca Leone d’Almerita is a Sicilian multivarietal white wine made at the Regaleali Estate. It is bottled as a Terre Siciliane IGT.

Tenuta Regaleali, high in the central Sicilian hills, has been in the hands of the noble Tasca family since 1830. Ever since, the property has been run according to the best principles of the agricultural aristocracy: with one eye firmly on quality, and the other on experimentation. Tasca’s large range is the product of the family’s most successful innovations, including short pruning for lower yields, the championing of local Inzolia and Nero d’Avola vines, the introduction of French varieties, and the use of barrique and temperature control. Even now, forty grape varieties from all over Europe are planted just for experimental purposes, with the possibility of making the grade in the future.

The exact blend of the grapes for the Tasca Leone D’Almerita varies from vintage to vintage but it usually around Catarratto (58%), Pinot Blanc (16%), Sauvignon (15%) and Gewürztraminer (11%). Cataratto is an indegenous Sicilian grape, the Bianco adds structure, Sauvignon Blanc adds aroma and acidity whilst the Gewurztraminer brings is unique aromas. The grapes are harvested from a selection of hillside vineyards situated between 500 and 900 metres above sea level. The juice undergoes cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks at 14-16ºC for fifteen days. There was no malolactic fermentation and the wine is aged on yeasts in stainless steel tanks for four months.