4-Bottle White Case Wine Description - September 2025
CENTOPASSI GIATO GRILLO CATARRATTO DOC SICILIA
Grape
A blend of 60% Grillo and 40% Catarratto
Grillo is an autochthonous Sicilian varietal, historically tied to Marsala and prized for its aromatic intensity, structure, and aging potential, even outliving most Sicilian whites.
Catarratto is among Sicily’s most widely planted white grapes, known for its high acidity, floral aromas, and refreshing salinity.
Region
Produced on the Belice Corleonese plateau in western Sicily, notably in vineyards around Giabbascio, Pietralunga, and Verzanica, territory on Monte Jato near Palermo. The name Giato refers to the ancient district around Mount Jato’s Greek theatre.
Tasting Notes
Bright aromas of lemon zest, white blossoms, peach stone, and a hint of tropical fruit create an inviting nose. On the palate, vibrant notes of white grapefruit, Meyer lemon, yellow peach, and apple unfold alongside subtle touches of raw hazelnut, tarragon, and honeysuckle. A streak of wet stone and saline minerality adds depth and precision. Dry, fresh, and mineral-driven, with lively acidity and a refined, harmonious structure.
Vinification & Ageing
Grapes are hand-harvested in boxes from mid-August to mid-September. They undergo soft crushing and fermentation in stainless steel vats, with maturation in steel for about four months. Fully certified organic.
Ageing Potential
Thanks to Grillo’s robust structure and the wine’s vibrant acidity, it has great potential to age, likely developing greater complexity over a few years, though it's enjoyable young too.
Food Pairing
Ideal with seafood and Mediterranean dishes such as pasta con le sarde (a Sicilian classic), grilled fish, shellfish, light antipasti, salads, or simply frutti di mare.
Fun Fact
Centopassi wines are produced by social cooperatives under the Libera Terra initiative, cultivating lands confiscated from the Mafia and transforming them into a symbol of justice, resilience, and renewal.
The name Centopassi honours Peppino Impastato, a Sicilian journalist and activist murdered by the Mafia in 1978. It refers to the short distance between his home and that of Mafia boss Gaetano Badalamenti, symbolising the perilous gap he crossed in defiance.
His life and fight for justice were brought to the screen in the award-winning 2000 film I Cento Passi (The Hundred Steps) by Marco Tullio Giordana cementing his legacy as a symbol of courage in Sicily and beyond. A movie I recommend you watch!
Discover more about the producer: Centopassi
I CLIVI COLLIO DOC FRIULIANO “SAN LORENZO”
Pronunciation: “Free-oo-lah-no”
Grape
100% Friulano
An indigenous grape variety of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Friulano is known for its delicate and characteristic bouquet, often featuring clear almond scents and mild wildflowers. It offers a dry, slightly aromatic profile with an elegant almond base and flavors of elderberry.
Region
Produced in the Collio DOC area of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. The vineyards are located around the San Lorenzo Church on Mount Quarin, in the village of Brazzano, province of Gorizia. The soils consist of marl and sandstone flysch of Eocene origin, locally known as Ponca.
Tasting Notes
The wine shows a delicate bouquet with clear almond scents and mild wildflowers. On the palate, it is dry and slightly aromatic, with an elegant almond base and flavors of elderberry, finishing clean and crisp with a subtle bitter almond note.
Vinification & Ageing
The grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel using native yeasts. After fermentation, the wine remains in contact with its fine lees for 12 months in stainless steel tanks, enhancing texture and complexity.
Ageing Potential
Enjoyable upon release, yet capable of evolving beautifully over time, developing greater complexity and depth.
Food Pairing
This wine pairs wonderfully with fish dishes, both sea and freshwater, whether prepared in stew or sauce, as well as regional Friulian cuisine, shellfish, hard cheeses, and charcuterie.
Fun Fact
The name San Lorenzo pays homage to the patron saint of Brazzano, highlighting the deep-rooted connection between the vineyard and the local community.
Discover more about the producer: I Clivi
VOERZIO MARTINI COLLI TORTONESI DOC TIMORASSO "DERTHONA”
Pronunciation: “Tee-mo-rah-sso”
Grape
100% Timorasso
An indigenous white grape from Piedmont, Timorasso was nearly extinct before being revived in the Colli Tortonesi area. It is known for its rich structure, vibrant acidity, and impressive ageing capacity. The variety offers notes of stone fruit, citrus, and herbs, often developing complex mineral and honeyed tones with time.
Region
Produced in the Derthona area of Colli Tortonesi, in Piedmont, Italy. The vineyards are planted on calcareous clay soils in the hills surrounding the town of Tortona, at altitudes that favour slow ripening and aromatic development. The local terroir, with its marl-rich soils, gives the wines notable minerality and longevity.
Tasting Notes
This Timorasso reveals a layered bouquet of ripe peach, citrus zest, wild herbs, and a distinct mineral character. On the palate, it is textured and elegant, with vibrant acidity balanced by weight and richness. Notes of honey, chamomile, and flint emerge, leading to a long, savoury finish.
Vinification & Ageing
The grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in stainless steel. The wine is aged on its fine lees for several months to enhance complexity, mouthfeel, and aromatic depth, while maintaining freshness and purity of fruit.
Ageing Potential
Already expressive in youth, Derthona Timorasso is renowned for its capacity to age gracefully for a decade or more, developing layers of honeyed, nutty, and mineral notes over time.
Food Pairing
It pairs well with rich fish dishes, shellfish, risotto, aged cheeses, and white meats. Its structure and complexity also make it ideal for more elaborate pairings such as truffle-based dishes and traditional Piedmontese cuisine.
Fun Facts
“Derthona” is the ancient Roman name for the town of Tortona and today designates the denomination for Timorasso wines, symbolising the renaissance of this rare grape variety in its historic homeland.
Discover more about the producer: VoerzioMartini
ETTORE GERMANO LANGHE DOC RIESLING “HERZU”
Grape
100% Riesling, a variety renowned for its aromatic intensity, crisp acidity, and aging potential.
Region
Produced in the Langhe area of Piedmont, Italy, where hilly vineyards and calcareous, well-drained soils combine with a temperate climate to give grapes excellent ripening while preserving freshness and minerality.
Tasting Notes
The wine shows a straw yellow colour with green highlights, reflecting its youth. The nose offers aromas of lemon, peach, subtle floral notes, and a hint of minerality, with a delicate touch of tropical fruit and faint petrol notes that develop with aeration. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, with crisp acidity, balanced fruit sweetness, and a long, mineral-driven finish.
Vinification & Ageing
Grapes are hand-harvested, lightly crushed, and softly pressed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures, preserving the wine’s aromatic profile. It is then aged on the lees for several months to enhance texture and complexity.
Ageing Potential
Enjoyable upon release, but capable of developing additional complexity and aromatic depth over 5–8 years.
Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with seafood, white fish, sushi, shellfish, fresh cheeses, and light poultry dishes. Its freshness and minerality make it versatile for a range of dishes.
Fun Fact
The name “Herzu” is inspired by the German word for “heart,” reflecting Ettore Germano’s commitment to crafting wines that express the true essence of the Langhe terroir.
Discover more about the producer: Ettore Germano
