Profile

Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninlow
Aciditymedium
Sweetnessdry
Oakbarrel aged

Drinking window

Best 10 to 40 years from vintage.

vintage10 yrs40 yrs42 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedLow tanninMedium acidityDryVery Long, Rancio-Oxidative, Complex finish

Aroma: dried apricot, walnut, rancio, caramelised orange peel

Palate: dried fig, hazelnut, coffee, aged wood

Florio's Marsala Vergine Riserva is a benchmark for the driest and most complex Marsala style: fortified without added must, aged minimum 10 years in large oak in the tuff-stone cellars, developing deep rancio oxidative complexity.

What it pairs with

  • Aged Parmigiano Reggiano with honey The wine's intense oxidative complexity and dried-fruit notes pair classically with aged cheese.More wines for aged hard cheese →
  • Dark chocolate with sea salt The rancio richness and dried-fruit depth create a compelling match with bitter dark chocolate.More wines for chocolate →
  • Served as digestif Marsala Vergine's complexity and length make it a perfect contemplative after-dinner pour.

With cheese

Caciocavallo Palermitano Our pick Dry Marsala Vergine is full-bodied and oxidative, with walnut, hazelnut and dried fig and no sweetness. It sets that nuttiness against the piquant, flaky paste of an older caciocavallo, a savoury rather than sweet pairing.

How to serve Florio Marsala Vergine Riserva

Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
  2. Serve at 12-14°C. Cellar temperature (12-14°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a small fortified-wine glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Aged Parmigiano Reggiano with honey, Dark chocolate with sea salt, Served as digestif. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Cantine Florio was founded in 1833 by Vincenzo Florio, a Calabrian entrepreneur who built a major Marsala house. The historic tuff-stone cellars with 104 arches, built in 1840, house over 1,400 barrels in solera. The Vergine Riserva is the driest DOC category of Marsala, produced without the mosto cotto or mistella additions that define lower styles.

  1. 1833Cantine Florio founded by Vincenzo Florio in Marsala
  2. 1840The signature tuff-stone barrel cellars with 104 arches completed
  3. 1833Florio expands into a major Sicilian commercial trading dynasty

Facts

Producer
Cantine Florio · visiting guide
Grapes
Grillo
Classification
Marsala Vergine DOC
Oak
Minimum 10 years in large Slavonian oak barrels (botti); solera-style perpetuo system
ABV
18.0%
Price
€25-45 at retail
Drinking window
10-40+ from vintage
First vintage
1940

Frequently asked about Florio Marsala Vergine Riserva

What does Florio Marsala Vergine Riserva taste like?

On the nose, dried apricot, walnut, rancio, caramelised orange peel. On the palate, dried fig, hazelnut, coffee, aged wood. Structurally full-bodied, low tannins, medium acidity with a very long, rancio-oxidative, complex finish. Florio's Marsala Vergine Riserva is a benchmark for the driest and most complex Marsala style: fortified without added must, aged minimum 10 years in large oak in the tuff-stone cellars, developing deep rancio oxidative complexity.

When should I drink Florio Marsala Vergine Riserva?

Drink 10-40+ from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Florio Marsala Vergine Riserva?

Aged Parmigiano Reggiano with honey is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Dark chocolate with sea salt and Served as digestif. The wine's intense oxidative complexity and dried-fruit notes pair classically with aged cheese.

What grapes are in Florio Marsala Vergine Riserva?

The blend is Grillo. The wine is classified as Marsala Vergine DOC.

Tags

cellar worthy dry fortified marsala full body grillo iconic medium acid mood contemplative mood elegant occasion cellar occasion gift occasion special old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with chocolate pairs with digestif price trade up

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