Riesi Wine Region

Reisi is a famous sub-region of Sicily, southern Italy. The highly regarded Riesi appellation has an array of wines known worldwide for their quality and singularity. The wines can be red, white, rosé, sparkling, and even dessert or speciality wines, all produced from various authorized grapes in the region. Riesi’s quintessential style is set apart from the rest due to its soil types, the selection of grape varieties, and the specific production methods of winemakers in the area. For that matter, these factors create a style of wine that cannot be found anywhere else in Italy or the world. 

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Where is the Riesi wine region located?

Located in the southwest Sicily region, Italy, one of the country’s most important wine regions, the Riesi wine appellation is surrounded by the hills of the Caltanissetta province. The Riesi wine region stretches 36 hectares and covers the municipalities of Butera and Mazzarino. The notable neighbouring wine appellations in the region of Sicily are Noto, Vittoria, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Eloro, Etna and Siracusa, all producing distinctive wines and having a fair share of Sicily’s fame. 

The history of the Riesi wine region

Riesi region was founded in the 13th century when Arab leaders ruled this area; therefore, there was no viticulture going on in that period. Winemaking was only introduced in the 20th century when Christian leadership came into the region; they also served to develop literacy and founded respective establishments. In the 1990s, large producers, such as Cusumano and Duca di Salaparuta moved into the Riesi triangle from other parts of Sicily and Italy and bought vineyards in this area, tempted by the great location and specificity of conditions. It has been a great success for them, and many wineries have been established during this period. Riesi has been producing premier quality wine from the very beginning and consequently was granted the appellation status in 2001. Nowadays, Riesi is a proud Italian DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata).

Riesi wine region terroir

The fact that hills surround the Riesi wine region creates various microclimates in different municipalities. However, the climate overall is the Mediterranean, as the region is located within 30 kilometres of the Mediterranean coast. This climate, characterized by mild and wet winters with warm and dry summers, is considered perfect for growing wine grapes, and there is almost no threat of frosts. Also, the diurnal temperature variation plays a significant role in proper ripening and maintaining the right balance between sugar levels and acidity in grapes. The altitude at which vineyards sit ranges between 250 and 350 metres above sea level. The soil here mainly consists of calcium carbonate, which is good for water retention and its gradual distribution to vine roots. It is also rich in minerals and salt.

Riesi wine characteristics

The Riesi wines are pretty diversified, and the region uses different grape varieties for production. However, the native grapes to the region are only Syrah and Nero d’Avola, also known as Calabrese, used for producing rosé and red wine. Other authorized grape varieties are, Inzolia or Ansonica and Chardonnay for white wine and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Nerello Mascalese for rosé and red wine. Riesi Rosso or red should contain 80-85% of one authorized grape variety; in contrast, Rosato or rosé blend can be 50% of Nero d’Avola/Calabrese and 50% of Cabernet Sauvignon or Nerello Mascalese. 40% of red wine grapes must undergo compulsory carbonic maceration. Riesi white wine has Inzolia or Chardonnay as the main grape variety and should comprise 75-85% of it. The same goes with Riesi Spumante, which means sparkling wine and speciality wine, a dessert wine of Vendemmia Tardiva, meaning late harvest in Italian. Minimum alcohol content ranges from 11% to 13%, and only Vendemmia Tardiva is an exception; that has an alcohol content of 8% at the beginning, which might increase to 18% over time. This wine also has a comparatively higher residual sugar of 120 grams per litre. Riesi red has dark ruby colour and violet flavour, while Riesi white and Spumante are straw-yellow and fresh with fruity flavours. Riesi late harvest dessert wine is amber-yellow, velvety and sweet. The minimum ageing period for white, rosé and red wine is four months, and two years for Spumante and Vendemmia Tardiva. The red wines aged for a minimum of two years, from which at least six months was in a barrel, are classified as Superiore, and the ones aged for three years with one year of barrel ageing are labelled as Superiore Riserva. Both of them are exclusively produced from Nero d’Avola grapes. 

Food to pair with Riesi wine

Involtini di pesce spada

Involtini di pesce spada are swordfish rolls, a traditional Italian dish originating from Sicily. These fish rolls are stuffed with swordfish, capers, garlic, creamy cheese, fresh herbs, lemon zest and sometimes nuts, covered with breadcrumbs; they are either grilled or deep-fried. This succulent fish is perfect to pair with Riesi white or sparkling wine.

Braciole messinesi

Braciole messinesi is a typical Sicilian meat dish, cooked with beef, caciocavallo cheese, garlic and parsley, mixed and dipped in breadcrumbs, then grilled on skewers until the meat is fully cooked. This mouth-watering beef goes simply great with a glass of Riesi Rosso.

Testi di Turco

Testi di Turco is a traditional sweet pastry in the region of Sicily. Made from the softest dough, whole milk, and ricotta and filled with various fillings such as chocolate, vanilla cream or cinnamon paste, this delicious dessert pairs exceptionally well with Riesi dessert wine.

Places to visit in the Riesi wine region

Museo della Miniera Trabia Tallarita

Museo della Miniera Trabia Tallarita is a modern museum expressing the time when Sicily was the principal producer of sulphur in the world. The museum is impressive with exquisite paintings but not easy to see as it reflects not the sweet life of Italians but the hard work of the labour force; therefore, it helps to discover the authentic history of the region and Sicilian people in that period.

Chiesa Maria Santissima del Rosario

The Maria Santissima del Rosario is a beautiful Catholic Church in Riesi. It overlooks a narrow street with a flat facade visible only partially from the street that extends orthogonally to the facade. The interior has a single nave, terminated by a semicircular apse. The nave is covered by a barrel vault roof. The gable roof is made of a wooden structure, covered with tiles of the “Sicilian coppi” type, making the church distinctive, characterizing the treats of the region.

Monte degli Ulivi

Monte degli Ulivi is an essential architectural ensemble constructed in the second part of the 20th century by architect Leonardo Ricci. Consisting of 6 buildings, Monte degli Ulivi is one of the most notable examples of Italian architecture, belonging to a religious institution with a particular purpose. The mission was to battle against illiteracy, poverty, crime etc. Therefore, each of these six buildings was used for specific activities like nursery school, elementary school, library and community houses, where the meal was cooked, and people dined together. 

Frequently Asked Questions about the Riesi wine region