Sicilian Wine Grapes: Grillo and Frappato

Today we take a deep dive into some Sicilian wine grapes, Grillo and Frappato. Sicily has a long history of producing a wide variety of excellent, food friendly wine. We will continue to update this article on Sicilian Wine as continue to learn about what the island has to offer!

This article is part of the Italian Food, Wine & Travel writers exploration of the theme “Italian Indigenous Grapes” hosted by Culinary Cam. Disclosure: The wines from Donnafugata were provided as complimentary samples.

Jump to:

• Introduction to Sicilian Wine
• Frappato
• Grillo
• Catarratto
• About Donnafugata
• More Sicilian wine grapes
• Italian Indigenous Grape Articles

Introduction to Sicilian Wine

Sicilian wine, deeply rooted in history and culture, embodies the essence of the Mediterranean wine and food culture. From ancient vineyards nestled amidst rugged landscapes to modern wineries crafting innovative blends, Sicilian wine offers a wide range of wine styles made from many different grape varieties.

I’ve had Sicilian wine here and there over the years, but it is definitely an Italian wine region worth a deeper exploration. I started that process by attending an informative (and delicious!) Sicilian wine lunch at Contessa restaurant in Boston, back in 2023. More on that here in this Instagram post. In this article, we begin to take a closer look at some of the many Sicilian wine grapes…with food pairings, of course!

Frappato

Frappato as a light-bodied Sicilian wine grape that is often compared to Pinot Noir for its body and food friendliness. I also find it reminds me of a Gamay. Frappato tends to have delicate floral notes, bright red berry flavors, and subtle hints of spice. Frappato thrives in the warm, Mediterranean climate of Sicily, where it finds its ideal conditions for ripening. The grape flourishes in well-drained soils, particularly those with a mix of limestone and clay, which contribute to the wine’s finesse and complexity.

You aren’t likely to find Frappato from anywhere other than Sicily! According to Wine Folly, most of the 2,000 acres of this rare grape wordlwide are found on the island.

For an all-Sicilian pairing, you might want to think about serving Frappato with dishes like pasta alla Norma or grilled seafood. But I went in a slightly different direction.

In addition to single varietal bottlings such as we enjoyed, Frappato is also blended with Nero d’Avola to produce the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG.

Donnafugata Frappato Pairing

We had an opportunity to sample the Bell’Assai Vittoria DOC Frappato from Donnafugata ($30, 13.1%).

The wine is light red in the glass. Crushed berries on the nose. On the palate, black cherry, juniper and tart acidity. Pleasant to sip on its own, but I had the sense it would be even better with food! It has an earthy quality similar to a good Gamay.

Seafood or pasta might be the obvious pairing choices, but I decided to go in a different direction. I had been eyeing the NY Times Cooking recipe for Chicken Shawarma (gift recipe link) for awhile. This is a sheet pan recipe for chicken thighs, prepared with a Middle Eastern style blend of spices and a lot of lemon juice.

The chicken was delicious, and we served it with some whole wheat couscous and sautéed red cabbage. The Frappato was an excellent match for the lively spices, and the wine’s acidty worked well with the lemon in the dish. I’d have to say this was one of my favorite pairings so far this year.

I am thinking this Frappato would also be very good with our Braised Moroccan Chicken Thighs! After enjoying this wine and the pairing, I’m definitely going to be looking to have Frappato in the mix here!

The Vittoria DOC is in the Southeastern corner of Sicily. All of Donnafugata’s wines are certified sustainable. More on the wine can be found here.

Grillo

Grillo is a white grape indigenous to Sicily that has long been in the mix for me. With vibrant acidity and refreshing citrus notes, Grillo wines express Sicilian terroir and sunshine. Grillo is often compared to other Mediterranean varieties like Vermentino and Sauvignon Blanc. I know Grillo primarily as a crisp, unoaked varietal wine, but it is also a key component in Marsala blends.

Pairings with Grillo

I had a bottle of the Donnafugata Sur Sur Grillo Sicilia DOC ($23, 13.1% ABV) to sample for this article.

I did go with pasta for this Grillo pairing, but not an Italian classic. I featured the Donnafugata Grillo with our Pasta with Red Lentils and Ginger. This is one of my favorite vegetarian pasta recipes, with lots of flavor driving by the garlic and ginger. It can be a vegetarian main, and also makes a nice side for seafood.

I get some light salty notes on the nose, conjuring up images of the sea. Lemon fruit on the palate, with good acidity and underlying minerality. Very good with the pasta! I’m sure it would also be good with seafood such as our baked haddock.

A few other food pairings with Grillo that we recommend:

• Linguine with Cod and Asparagus (Cooking Chat recipe)
• Grilled Sicilian Swordfish from Just a Little Bit of Bacond
• Pesto based recipes, such as our kale pesto recipe

Catarratto

Catarratto is an ancient white wine grape variety native to Sicily, where it has been cultivated for centuries. Catarratto is a versatile grape, and is one of the most widely planted grape varieties in Sicily. It thrives in the island’s warm climate and volcanic soils. This grape is known for producing wines with vibrant acidity, which lends itself well to both still and sparkling styles.

We recently posted a delicious recipe for Chicken Romano, which we paired with the 2022 Anthilia Sicilia DOC Bianco ($19, 12.5% ABV) from Donnafugata. Cataratto is the primary grape in this white, although it is referred to as Lucido in the local dialect. This Etna Bianco has notes of citrus and seashells on the nose. On the palate, peach fruit and floral notes, and a bit of acidity.

About Donnafugata

We covered more about Donnafugata in our recent article accompanying the Chicken Romano pairing, but let’s recap a bit here.

Founded in 1983 by Giacomo Rallo and his wife Gabriella, Donnafugata winery has deep roots in rural Sicily, with a winemaking legacy dating back to the late 19th century. Today, their children Jose and Antonio lead the company.

Spanning seaside to mountainous terrains, Donnafugata’s vineyards feature diverse terroirs. With a firm commitment to sustainability, they joined SOStain Sicilia in 2021, aligning with 9 sustainable development goals under the UN 2030 agenda. Learn more about their initiatives on the Donnafugata website.

Recently, Pietro Russo, Donnafugata’s Winemaker, achieved the esteemed title of Italian Master of Wine.

More Sicilian wine grapes

Here are some other common Sicilian wine grapes. Stay tuned as we come back to share more information and pairings for them!

• Nero d’Avola
• Nerello Mascalese
• Inzolia (Ansonica)
• Grecanico (Garganega)
• Perricone (Pignatello)
• Carricante

Italian Indigenous Grape Articles

Be sure to check out these articles from my Italian Food, Wine & Travel writer colleagues to learn more about Italian Indigenous grapes!

• An Umbrian Grape with Greek Origins: Cantina Roccafiore Grechetto di Todi Fiordalis + Pesce alla Ghiotta by Culinary Cam
• BI.VI.SI.: Revitalizing Sicily’s native, ancient vines for forgotten flavors like Frappato by Wine Predator…Gwendolyn Alley
• Brachetto: A Piemontese Grape Meant for Food! by Keep the Peas
• Castello di Grumello Medera & Casconcelli by The Quirky Cork
• Ciliegiolo, Great Wines for Spring by Avvinare
• Durella – Native vine of the Lessini Mountains that Sparkles by Crushed Grape Chronicles
• Pasta, Wine, and a Cookbook Review by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Pizza Wine! Fresh, Fruity, and Made from Native Italian Grapes by My Full Wine Glass
• Sicilian Wine Grapes: Grillo and Frappato by Cooking Chat
• Sicily’s Zibibbo Grape with Fish Cakes by Vino Travels
• Unlock the Beauty of Mexican Wines: The Fusion of Italian Indigenous Grapes by Our Good Life