




Donnafugata Mille e una Notte
Sicilia DOC, Sicilia
Tasting Notes
With an intense ruby red color, Mille e Una Notte 2018 presents a complex bouquet characterized by notes of red (cherry) and black (blackberry) fruits, fresh balsamic (eucalyptus) and spicy hints (black pepper) augmented by delicate nuances of vanilla. On the palate it is soft and enveloping, with great structure and tannins are mature and refined. It ends with a notable persistence.
Food Pairings
Excellent with roast and braised meat, first courses with ragù and rack of lamb. Try it with tasty dishes of stewed fish. If served in large, big-bellied goblets it can be uncorked a few minutes before, otherwise a couple of hours earlier. Excellent at 18°C (64°F).
Vintage Notes
In Contessa Entellina after two slightly rainier years, in 2018 743 mm of rainfall were recorded, a figure that is above the average of 667 mm* of this territory. Most of the rainfall was distributed in spring; only in some plots there have been precipitations in the summer. The integrated management of agronomic practices, from pruning to thinning to the choice of different harvesting moments, inspired by an eco-sustainable viticulture, has allowed us to have healthy and well-ripened grapes.
*Precipitation data are collected by SIAS, Sicilian Agrometeorological Service; the rainfall recorded from October 1st to September 30th of the following year is taken into account; the average is calculated starting from the 2003 harvest.
Winemaking Notes
A further selection is carried out in the cellar, thanks to a latest generation destemmer, able to discard the green and overripe berries that might still be on the clusters. Fermentation in stainless steel and maceration on the skins for 12 days at a temperature of 26 - 30° C (79 -86° F). Ageing for 13-14 months in new french oak barriques and then in the bottle for at least 24 months.
Vineyard Notes
Production Zone: south-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
Terrains & Climate: altitude from 200 to 400 m a.m.s.l. (656- 1,312 ft); hilly orography; clay loam soils with a sub-alkaline reaction (pH 7.5 to 7.9) rich in nutritive elements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc) and total limestone from 20 to 35%. Mild winters with little rainfall. Warm, dry, ventilated summers. Substantial differences between day and night-time temperatures.
Vineyard: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning g, leaving 6 to 8 buds per plant. Planting density of 4,500 to 6,000 plants per hectare (1,800-2,400 an acre) and yields of about 4-5 tons per hectare (1.6-2 tons an acre).
Technical Info
Denomination: Red Sicilia DOC
Grapes: Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and other grapes
Alcohol: 13.80 % vol.
Total Acidity: 6.2 g/l.
pH: 3.67
Tasting Notes
Intense ruby red colored, Mille e una Notte 2017 is characterized by an ample bouquet, with fruity notes (blackberry and black mulberry) and balsamic (liquorice) and scents of cocoa and vanilla. The palate is soft and embracing, surprising with an extraordinary silky tannin. A remarkable long persistence on the finish.
Food Pairings
Excellent with roast and braised meat, first courses with ragù and rack of lamb. Try it with tasty dishes of stewed fish. If served in large, big-bellied goblets it can be uncorked a few minutes before, otherwise a couple of hours earlier. Excellent at 18°C (64°F).
Vintage Notes
In the 2017 vintage 555 mm of rainfall was recorded, a slightly lower figure compared to the average* (661 mm) for this territory. Rainfall was mainly concentrated in autumn and winter and therefore, during the months of June and July, we intervened with emergency irrigation; thus the vineyards were able to complete the vegetation-production cycle in a regular way.
*Vintage: In Contessa Entellina we consider the period from October 1 to September 30; Rainfall: data collected by SIAS, (Sicilian Agrometeorological Service); **the average is calculated from vintage 2003.
Winemaking Notes
A further selection is carried out in the cellar, thanks to a latest generation destemmer, able to discard the green and overripe berries that might still be on the clusters. Fermentation in stainless steel and maceration on the skins for 12 days at a temperature of 26 - 30° C (79 -86° F). Ageing for 13-14 months in new French oak barriques and then in the bottle for at least 20 months.
Vineyard Notes
Production Zone: south-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
Terrains & Climate: altitude from 200 to 400 m a.m.s.l. (656- 1,312 ft); hilly orography; clay loam soils with a sub-alkaline reaction (pH 7.5 to 7.9) rich in nutritive elements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc) and total limestone from 20 to 35%. Mild winters with little rainfall. Warm, dry, ventilated summers. Substantial differences between day and night-time temperatures.
Vineyard: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning g, leaving 6 to 8 buds per plant. Planting density of 4,500 to 6,000 plants per hectare (1,800-2,400 an acre) and yields of about 4-5 tons per hectare (1.6-2 tons an acre).
Technical Info
Denomination: Red Sicilia DOC
Grapes: Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and other grapes
Alcohol: 13.70 % vol.
Total Acidity: 5.3 g/l.
pH: 3.66
Tasting Notes
Intense ruby red colored, Mille e una Notte 2016 is characterized by an ample bouquet, with fruity notes (blackberry and black mulberry) and balsamic (liquorice) and spicy scents (nutmeg). The palate is soft and embracing, surprising with an extraordinary silky tannin. A remarkable long persistence on the finish.
Food Pairings
Excellent with roasted and braised meat, ragù, rack of lamb and stewed fish.
Technical Info
- DENOMINATION: Red Sicilia DOC.
- GRAPES: Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and other grapes.PRODUCTION ZONE: south-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
- TERRAINS & CLIMATE: altitude from 200 to 600 m a.m.s.l. (656- 1,312 ft); hilly orography; clay loam soils with a sub-alkaline reaction (pH 7.5 to 7.9) rich in nutritive elements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc) and total limestone from 20 to 35%. Mild winters with little rainfall. Warm, dry, ventilated summers. Substantial differences between day and night-time temperatures.
- VINEYARD: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning g, leaving 6 to 8 buds per plant. Planting density of 4,500 to 6,000 plants per hectare (1,800-2,400 an acre) and yields of about 4-5 tons per hectare (1.6-2 tons an acre).
- VINTAGE*: the 2016 vintage was characterized by a fairly balanced climatic trend, marked by a mild spring and a summer without excessive peaks of heat, allowing the vineyard to continue the vegetative cycle in a balanced way. Overall, 590 mm* of rainfall was recorded, a slightly lower figure compared to the average of 669 mm**. Careful vineyard management allowed us to bring into the winery healthy and well-ripened grapes, a premise of quality, long-lived wines. *in Contessa Entellina we consider the period from October 1 to September 30; RAINFALL: data collected by SIAS, (Sicilian Agrometeorological Service); **the average is calculated from vintage 2003 to vintage 2016.
- HARVESTING: manual harvesting of grapes into crates with careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard. The harvest of the grapes destined for Mille e una Notte began during the first decade of September with the Nero d'Avola and Petit Verdot, followed by Syrah.
- VINIFICATION: a further selection is carried out in the cellar, thanks to a latest generation destemmer, able to discard the green and overripe berries that might still be on the clusters. Fermentation in stainless steel and maceration on the skins for 12 days at a temperature of 26 - 30° C (79 -86° F). Ageing for 13-14 months in new French oak barriques and then in the bottle for at least 20 months.
- ANALYSIS DATA: alcohol 13.84 % vol., total acidity: 5.7 g/l., pH: 3.62.
Tasting Notes
Intense ruby red colored, Mille e una Notte 2015 is characterized by an ample bouquet, with fruity notes of blackberry and black mulberry, layered with licorice and spicy scents followed by hints of cacao. The palate is soft and embracing, with extraordinary silky tannins and a remarkably long finish.
Food Pairings
Try with fresh pasta, like pappardelle, with pork ragout, slow-cooked rack of lamb, roasts or Tournedos Rossini.
Technical Info
- GRAPES: Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and other grapes.
- PRODUCTION ZONE: South-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
- TERRAINS: altitude from 200 to 600 m a.m.s.l. (656- 1,312 ft); hilly orography; clay loam soils with a sub-alkaline reaction (pH 7.5 to 7.9) rich in nutritive elements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc) and total limestone from 20 to 35%.
- VINEYARD: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning g, leaving 6 to 8 buds per plant. Planting density of 4,500 to 6,000 plants per hectare (1,822-2,429 an acre) and yields of about 4 tons (1.6 tons per acre); about 0.8 kg per plant
- VINTAGE 2015: Up to the end of June, the 2015 vintage was characterized by a climatic trend that was cooler and rainier than seasonal averages. Overall, from 1 October 2014to 30 September 2015, rainfall reached 763 mm compared to the 656 average of the last 10 years. In July the maximum temperatures recorded were higher than the average values for the period which favored the ripening process of the grapes. The considerable temperature fluctuations between day and night favored the concentration of aromatic precursors in the grapes.
- HARVESTING: manual harvesting of grapes into crates with careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard. The harvest of the grapes destined for Mille e una Notte began during the first decade of September with the Nero d'Avola and Petit Verdot, followed by Syrah.
- VINIFICATION: A further selection is carried out in the cellar, thanks to a latest generation destemmer, able to discard the green and overripe berries that might still be on the clusters. Fermentation in stainless steel and maceration on the skins for 12 days at a temperature of 26 - 30° C (79 -86° F). Ageing for 13 months in new French oak barriques and then in the bottle for at least 24 months.
- ANALYSIS DATA: alcohol 13.80 % vol., total acidity: 5.8 g/l., pH: 3.62
Tasting Notes
Intense ruby red colored, Mille e una Notte 2014 is characterized by an ample bouquet, with fruity notes (blackberry and plum) and balsamic and spicy scents followed by hints of chocolate. The palate is soft and embracing, surprising with an extraordinary silky tannin. A remarkable long persistence on the finish.
Food Pairings
Try with fresh pasta (e.g. pappardelle) with pork ragout, slow-cooked rack of lamb, roasts or Tournedos Rossini.
Technical Info
- DENOMINATION: Red – Terre Siciliane IGT.
- GRAPES: Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and other grapes.
- PRODUCTION ZONE: Southwestern Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
- TERRAINS: altitude from 200 to 600 m a.m.s.l. (656- 1,312 ft); hilly orography; clay loam soils with a sub-alkaline reaction (pH 7.5 to 7.9) rich in nutritive elements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc) and total limestone from 20 to 35%.
- VINEYARD: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning g, leaving 6 to 8 buds per plant. Planting density of 4,500 to 6,000 plants per hectare (1,822-2,429 an acre) and yields of about 4 tons (1.6 tons per acre); about 0.8 kg per plant
- VINTAGE 2014: the 2014 vintage was characterized by a fairly balanced climatic trend, marked by a relatively mild winter and a cool, rainy spring. Overall, from 1 October 2013 to 30 September 2014, 620 mm of rainfall was recorded: a slightly lower figure compared to the average of the last 10 years, with rainfall concentrated in the spring months. July and August passed without excesses of heat and with an excellent temperature range between day and night, thus favoring the production of particularly fresh and balanced wines.
- HARVESTING: manual harvesting of grapes into crates with careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard. The harvest of the grapes destined for Mille e una Notte began during the first decade of September with the Nero d'Avola and Syrah and concluded in the third week with the Petit Verdot.
- VINIFICATION: A further selection is carried out in the cellar, thanks to a latest generation destemmer, able to discard the green and overripe berries that might still be on the clusters. Fermentation in stainless steel and maceration on the skins for 12 days at a temperature of 26 - 30° C (79 -86° F). Ageing for 14 months in new French oak barriques and then in the bottle for at least 24 months.
- ANALYSIS DATA: alcohol 13.88 % vol., total acidity: 5.5 g/l., pH: 3.57