In the glass
Aroma: fresh apricot, orange blossom, honey, light floral
Palate: fresh stone fruit, light musk, gentle sweetness, saline finish
Lighea is Donnafugata's dry-to-off-dry Zibibbo table wine from Pantelleria: fresh, aromatic, with the grape's characteristic muscat-like floral and apricot character in a lighter, immediately approachable style.
What it pairs with
-
Grilled prawns with garlic and lemon
Floral aromatics and light sweetness complement the sweet-savoury grilled prawns. -
Sicilian couscous with vegetable broth
The wine's fragrant floral notes and light body pair with the aromatic vegetable couscous. -
Fresh soft cheese with herb honey
Off-dry sweetness and floral aromatics bridge the creamy cheese and fragrant honey.
How to serve Donnafugata Lighea
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 8-10°C. Cellar temperature (8-10°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a smaller all-purpose white glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Grilled prawns with garlic and lemon, Sicilian couscous with vegetable broth, Fresh soft cheese with herb honey. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Lighea (named for the mermaid of a Tomasi di Lampedusa novella set on Sicily) is Donnafugata's most approachable Zibibbo expression, made without drying as a fresh table wine. It was introduced to offer a lighter entry into the Donnafugata Pantelleria range for everyday drinking alongside the more intense sweet wines.
- 2004 — First Lighea Zibibbo table wine vintage
Facts
- Producer
- Donnafugata Pantelleria
- Grapes
- Zibibbo
- Classification
- Terre Siciliane IGT
- Oak
- Stainless steel on lees; no drying
- ABV
- 12.5%
- Price
- €14-22 at retail
- Drinking window
- 1-5 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2004
Frequently asked about Donnafugata Lighea
What does Donnafugata Lighea taste like?
On the nose, fresh apricot, orange blossom, honey, light floral. On the palate, fresh stone fruit, light musk, gentle sweetness, saline finish. Structurally light-bodied, low tannins, medium acidity with a floral-fresh, medium length finish. Lighea is Donnafugata's dry-to-off-dry Zibibbo table wine from Pantelleria: fresh, aromatic, with the grape's characteristic muscat-like floral and apricot character in a lighter, immediately approachable style.
When should I drink Donnafugata Lighea?
Drink 1-5 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Donnafugata Lighea?
Grilled prawns with garlic and lemon is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Sicilian couscous with vegetable broth and Fresh soft cheese with herb honey. Floral aromatics and light sweetness complement the sweet-savoury grilled prawns.
What grapes are in Donnafugata Lighea?
The blend is Zibibbo. The wine is classified as Terre Siciliane IGT.