The Rallo family is the Donnafugata Estate owners and has made wine in Marsala since 1851. Their ancient cellars tunnel are situated beneath the city. They were one of the first families to begin making high quality table wine when sales of traditional Marsala started to decline, launching the Donnafugata label in 1983 and championing the potential of the region’s native varieties. Today, Donnafugata has four estates in Sicily: a modern winery and 283 hectares at Contessa Entellina in the hills east of Marsala; 36 hectares in Vittoria to the south eastern point of the island; 68 hectares on the island of Pantelleria; and 18 hectares on the slopes of Etna. Donnafugata means ‘fleeing woman’ and is a reference to Queen Maria Carolina, who escaped the court of Naples in the early 19th century with her husband, Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, when Napoleon’s troops arrived. The couple took refuge in Sicily at the Santa Margherita Belice palace, also the favourite residence of celebrated writer Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and depicted on the ‘Mille e una Notte’ label.
This wine opens with elegant notes of aromatic herbs, citrus fruits and flint. On the palate, it is fresh and savoury, characterised by its distinctive minerality and remarkable persistence.
Brilliant ruby red with violet hues. On the nose, Sherazade has a bouquet of fragrant red plum and cherry with light spicy and balsamic scents. The palate is soft and enveloping with smooth tannins and a spicy fruit profile that reflects the nose and reveals extraordinary freshness.
Brilliant amber in colour, Ben Ryé is wonderfully fresh and complex. The bouquet is intense and rich with aromas of apricots and candied citrus zest combine with notes of Mediterranean thyme and rosemary. The palate is well-defined and intense, with pleasant sweetness well balanced by fresh acidity and great minerality.
Pale ruby red in the glass, this wine offers an elegant bouquet of wild berry notes, violets and delicate nuances of cinnamon and nutmeg. These characteristics continue through to the palate, supported by freshness and harmonious tannins. The finish is long and balanced.
Brilliant amber in colour, Ben Ryé is wonderfully fresh and complex. The bouquet is intense and rich with aromas of apricots and candied citrus zest combine with notes of Mediterranean thyme and rosemary. The palate is well-defined and intense, with pleasant sweetness well balanced by fresh acidity and great minerality.
The wine is brilliant straw yellow in colour. On the nose, SurSur offers notes of stone fruit, especially peach, combined with intriguing scents of wild flowers, cut grass and mint. The palate is soft and fragrant and offers perfect harmony between aroma and taste.
Brilliant ruby red with violet reflections, Bell’Assai offers a fragrant bouquet with intense flowery notes of violets and roses combined with aromas of fresh strawberries and raspberries. On the palate, it shows great freshness supported by soft tannins.
Intense and inviting on the nose, "Mille e una Notte" opens with an ample bouquet of black fruit notes of blackberry and black mulberry, as well as liquorice and fine spicy hints of black pepper and chocolate. The palate perfectly reflects the nose, with soft and elegant tannins and a lingering finish.
This wine has an intense ruby red colour with brilliant purple hues. On the nose, it has intense fruity aromas of black cherry and berries (blueberry). On the palate, it opens with delicate flowery flavours and characteristic spicy notes of black pepper, the flavours are supported by a refreshing acidity with fine and well-integrated tannins.
Brilliant straw yellow in colour with a golden hue, the Kabir 2019 is characterized by a rich and fragrant bouquet. The elegant aromas of nectarine, citrus zest, orange blossom and white flowers are enriched by savoury herbal nuances. The palate is ample, with a fresh acidity and minerality that balances the pleasant sweetness. The finish is long, revealing hints of pink peppercorn and nutmeg.
Brilliant straw yellow in colour with a golden hue, the Kabir 2019 is characterized by a rich and fragrant bouquet. The elegant aromas of nectarine, citrus zest, orange blossom and white flowers are enriched by savoury herbal nuances. The palate is ample, with a fresh acidity and minerality that balances the pleasant sweetness. The finish is long, revealing hints of pink peppercorn and nutmeg.
This wine is deep ruby red in colour and characterized by a fragrant bouquet with notes of ripe red fruit such as red currant and plum, combined with scents of cocoa, black pepper and sweet tobacco. On the palate, the fruit character is intense, with soft and well-integrated tannins and a long, fragrant finish.
Vigna di Gabri has a straw yellow colour with light green reflections. Classic white peach aromas combine with floral notes of elderflower and wild flowers. The palate reflects the nose, enlivened by a fresh savoury streak. This is a fine and elegant white, with an intriguing personality and surprising longevity.