Donnafugata
Passito di Pantalleria Ben Rye 0.375L 2023
| Denomination | DOC Passito di Pantelleria |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,375 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.5% by volume |
| Area | Sicily (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Zibibbo |
| Aging | Aged for at least 7 months in tank and at least 12 months in bottle before being released for sale. |
- Name: Passito di Pantelleria DOC, sweet and aromatic white wine from dried grapes
- Grape variety: 100% Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria) from Pantelleria and 12 districts
- Production: grapes dried for 20-30 days, fermentation in stainless steel at controlled temperature
- Profile: notes of apricot, candied orange, Mediterranean scrub. Sweet and fresh on the palate
- Format and details: 0.375 L bottle, vintage 2023, 14.5% vol, aged for 7 plus 12 months
Description
What kind of wine it is
Ben Ryè by Donnafugata is a sweet wine that embodies the essence of Passito di Pantelleria. Produced exclusively from Zibibbo grapes, it offers a profound sensory profile where aromas of apricot, candied orange peel and Mediterranean herbs stand out. On the palate, it displays impeccable balance: honeyed sweetness is offset by vibrant freshness and elegant mineral notes. This combination delivers an exceptionally long finish, making it a meditation wine of extraordinary longevity.
Where it comes from
The vines grow on the island of Pantelleria, in a Sicilian area characterised by a complex volcanic landscape. The vineyards are cultivated on terraces constantly swept by the wind, an element from which the wine takes its name. The plants, trained using the alberello pantesco method, sink their roots into sandy volcanic soils rich in minerals. This context of heroic viticulture, with its hot, dry summers, ensures the perfect ripening of the grapes, combining savouriness and concentration.
How it is produced
Production begins with meticulous manual harvesting and the subsequent natural sun-drying of part of the grape bunches. The fresh grapes are gently pressed to obtain the must. During fermentation in stainless steel, hand-destemmed raisins are added several times, a process that continues for over a month. This prolonged maceration gives the wine remarkable structural richness. The entire cycle ends with a slow maturation in tank and bottle, which perfectly harmonises every aromatic nuance.
History and Curiosities
Born in 1989, Passito di Pantelleria DOC Ben Ryè embodies the excellence of Donnafugata, a name that recalls the “woman in flight” from the famous novel The Leopard. Its name, which in Arabic means “son of the wind”, pays homage to the constant breezes that caress the island. This oenological gem is the result of heroic viticulture: historic Zibibbo vineyards, some of which are over a hundred years old, cultivated using the traditional Pantelleria bush vine method, now a UNESCO heritage. Such an evocative story has even inspired the famous De Bondt Rye chocolates.
Awards
-
2023
97/100
Decanter is a wine and lifestyle magazine, published monthly in around 90 countries. The magazine includes industry news, classic guides and advice on wine and spirits.
-
2023
99/100
One of the most prestigious wine guides in Italy.
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
10 - 12 °C
Longevity:
10 - 15 years
- Start up year: 1983
- Oenologist: Antonio Rallo, Antonino Santoro e Pietro Russo con la consulenza di Stefano Valla
- Bottles produced: 3.650.000
- Hectares: 488
Giacomo Rallo, is the fourth generation of a family with over 170 years of experience in producing quality wine. In 1983 he founded Donnafugata together with his wife Gabriella, considered a pioneer of feminine viticulture. Today the company is led by their children Antonio and José together with a team of people committed to excellence and to the very best representation of Made in Italy.
Donnafugata is a world full of colors and timeless values, pleasant and elegant wines with a unique style. Our trademark labels tell the colours of Sicily and the character of the wines in a distinctive and fantastic feminine style. Read more
| Name | Donnafugata Passito di Pantalleria Ben Rye 0.375L 2023 |
|---|---|
| Type | White green dessert wine dessert wine aromatic |
| Denomination | Pantelleria DOC |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Size | 0,375 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 100% Zibibbo |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Vendor | Donnafugata |
| Story | History and Curiosities Born in 1989, Passito di Pantelleria DOC Ben Ryè embodies the excellence of Donnafugata, a name that recalls the "woman in flight" from the famous novel The Leopard. Its name, which in Arabic means "son of the wind", pays homage to the constant breezes that caress the island. This oenological gem is the result of heroic viticulture: historic Zibibbo vineyards, some of which are over a hundred years old, cultivated using the traditional Pantelleria bush vine method, now a UNESCO heritage. Such an evocative story has even inspired the famous De Bondt Rye chocolates. |
| Origin | Island of Pantelleria, South-Western Sicily, Italy |
| Climate | Mediterranean climate (mild and dry winters; hot and windy summers) |
| Soil composition | Sandy soils of volcanic origin, deep and fertile, rich in minerals |
| Plants per hectare | Approximately 2,500 plants/ha |
| Yield per hectare | 40–50 quintals per hectare |
| Harvest | After the second half of August (late summer), for several weeks |
| Fermentation | Over a month |
| Production technique | Natural drying of the grapes for 20–30 days (passito); fermentation at controlled temperature in stainless steel with successive additions of dried grapes; ageing in tank and in bottle |
| Wine making | Manual harvest after the second half of August with grape selection; bunches left to dry naturally for 20–30 days; further selection on a vibrating table, cooling of the grapes, gentle and careful pressing to obtain the must; delicate and extended maceration; fermentation at controlled temperature in stainless steel with repeated additions of selected, hand-destemmed raisins; ageing for at least 7 months in tank and at least 12 months in bottle. |
| Aging | Aged for at least 7 months in tank and at least 12 months in bottle before being released for sale. |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |