In the glass
Aroma: peach, almond, hazelnut, white flowers
Palate: stone fruit, nutty richness, mineral, long finish
Bianca di Valguarnera is Sicily's most celebrated Inzolia: Duca di Salaparuta's partial barrique treatment of the native grape produces a rich, nutty, mineral white with the depth to age several years.
What it pairs with
-
Gamberi in pasta con pistacchio
Almond-nutty depth and stone-fruit richness complement prawn pasta with Sicilian pistachios. -
Pan-fried sole with almonds
The wine's almond character mirrors the nut-crusted fish in a natural aromatic echo. -
Aged Sicilian tuma cheese
Nutty mineral depth suits the mellow sharpness of fresh-to-aged tuma.
How to serve Duca di Salaparuta Bianca di Valguarnera
Allow 35 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 30 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 10-12°C. Cellar temperature (10-12°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a medium-sized white-wine glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Gamberi in pasta con pistacchio, Pan-fried sole with almonds, Aged Sicilian tuma cheese. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Bianca di Valguarnera was created in 1985 as the prestige white of Duca di Salaparuta, named for the Principessa Enrica Valguarnera di Niscemi and representing the first serious attempt to produce a barrique-aged Inzolia in Sicily. It remains Sicily's benchmark single-varietal Inzolia.
- 1985 — First Bianca di Valguarnera; first barrique-aged Inzolia in Sicily
Facts
- Producer
- Duca di Salaparuta (Corvo)
- Grapes
- Inzolia (100%)
- Classification
- Sicilia DOC
- Oak
- Fermented and aged partially in French barriques on lees, 8 months
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 22-32 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-8 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1985
Frequently asked about Duca di Salaparuta Bianca di Valguarnera
What does Duca di Salaparuta Bianca di Valguarnera taste like?
On the nose, peach, almond, hazelnut, white flowers. On the palate, stone fruit, nutty richness, mineral, long finish. Structurally full-bodied, low tannins, medium acidity with a long, almond-nutty finish. Bianca di Valguarnera is Sicily's most celebrated Inzolia: Duca di Salaparuta's partial barrique treatment of the native grape produces a rich, nutty, mineral white with the depth to age several years.
When should I drink Duca di Salaparuta Bianca di Valguarnera?
Drink 3-8 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Duca di Salaparuta Bianca di Valguarnera?
Gamberi in pasta con pistacchio is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Pan-fried sole with almonds and Aged Sicilian tuma cheese. Almond-nutty depth and stone-fruit richness complement prawn pasta with Sicilian pistachios.
What grapes are in Duca di Salaparuta Bianca di Valguarnera?
The blend is Inzolia (100%). The wine is classified as Sicilia DOC.