Sicily has long been known for being the Italian crossroad of both ancient and modern culture.
The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, separated by a narrow strait of water from the “toe” of southern Italy, Sicily has been home to settlers from ancient Greece, North Africa and various European countries, including, of course, Italy. But what many people don’t know is that it is also home to some of the most remarkable wines in Italy. And lately, many of those wines bear the name Planeta.
The Planeta family has been farming the volcanic rich soils of Sicily for generations, however, their entry into the winemaking world is less than two decades old. Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta founded their first winery in 1995 on a family-owned vineyard called Sambuca de Sicilia. Today, the Planeta wine organization includes six unique vineyard locations totaling 900 acres and involves more than a dozen Planeta cousins. Each location has been selected for its particular soil composition, climate and ability to nurture specific grape varietals. This meticulous attention to detail has resulted in award-winning wines that express distinctive characteristics from the various sites throughout the island.
The Planeta family is also devoted to the environment. They take advantage of the continuous sunshine by harvesting power using solar panels and they use vineyard clippings and other organic materials to generate energy. The family is vigilant when it comes to recycling bottles and other manufacturing materials as well as the use of recycled paper for packaging.
Planeta wines are environmentally friendly and delicious. What’s not to love? Retail prices are approximate.
The 2010 Planeta Carricante ($40) is a white wine that hails from the Sambuca di Sicilia region where the Planeta family has owned the vineyard since the 17th century. The nose sports a very fragrant bouquet of citrus fruit and white flowers. Flavors of green apple, nectarine and roasted almonds are balanced by bright acidity and abundant minerality on the crisp, bone dry finish. QPR 8
The white Fiano grape for the 2009 Planeta Cometa Fiano ($40) comes from the Menfi region, located on the southwestern coast of the island. The maritime influences and chalky soils contribute to the fragrant nose of guava, kumquat and apricot. It has a distinctly tropical fruit palate that includes papaya and pineapple on the front of the tongue and notes of pear on the mellow finish. QPR 8.5
Also from the southwest corner of Sicily are the vineyards that produce the fruit for the 2009 Planeta Chardonnay ($40). Peach, apple and nectarine fruit dominate both the nose and the palate. The uber-chalky finish is long and lush, where the presence of roasted nuts adds a layer of complexity. QPR 7.5
From the Vittoria region comes the 2010 Planeta Cerasuolo de Vittoria DOCG ($22), the only DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) in Sicily. Aromas of cherry and strawberry fill the bouquet while charming flavors of strawberry, pomegranate and red cherry fills the entire mouth on a simple — but delightful — frame. Just a touch of truffle on the medium-bodied finish adds to the amiable appeal of this wine. QPR 7.5
The limestone and tufa content that make up the soils of the Noto region also contribute to the wonderfully flavorful 2007 Planeta Sant Cecillia Nero D’Avola ($40). Nero d’Avola is to Sicily what Chianti is to Tuscany and the flagship grape produces a wine with a heady nose of dark plum, cocoa and leather. Chewy flavors of dark cherry, black plum and tobacco are nicely integrated on a full-bodied frame. The nicely balanced finish is long and smooth, with just a whisper of smokiness on the tail end. QPR 9
Note: QPR is a rating system that compares the quality a wine delivers relative to the price. A QPR of 10 is considered an excellent value.
