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WINES OF SOUTHERN ITALY
Tasca d’Almerita
The island of Sicilia is home to the Tasca d’Almerita family of estates: Regaleali, Capofaro, and
Whitaker. The Regaleali estate is at the heart of the family’s wine production, and also serves as an
escape from the bustle of the coastal capital of Palermo. Regaleali is the name of the estate, which
comes from the Arabic, “Rahal-ali,” or House of Ali. In 2002, the family purchased vineyards on the
small island of Salina to create Tenuta Capofaro, which produces elegant sweet wines with high
acidity yet fresh balance throughout. The Whitaker estate consists of vineyards originally planted by
the English family of the same name in the 19th century.
As a result of Count Giuseppe’s hard work and dedication over the past 50 years, all the wines of
Tasca d’Almerita are celebrated worldwide for their outstanding value and prestigious history. Count
Giuseppe’s son, Count Lucio, is president of the family-run winery, and his two sons, Giuseppe and
Alberto, serve as vice president and managing director, respectively. In addition to the wines, the
estate is practically self-sufficient, producing most of the vegetables, fruits, wheat, olives, cheeses
and meats they need. This inspired Marchesa Anna Tasca Lanza, Count Lucio’s sister, to establish
a culinary school, considered one of the best in Italy today. The school has inspired culinary
professionals from around the world, including Julia Child and Alice Waters. In addition, Anna has
introduced hundreds more to the art of Sicilian cuisine through her cookbooks,
Heart of Sicilia:
Recipes
and
Reminiscences of Regaleali, a Country Estate
and
The Flavors of Sicilia: Stories,
Traditions
, and
Recipes for Warm-Weather Cooking.
While the history of Tasca d’Almerita dates back to the 19th century, it was Count Giuseppe Tasca
who started a new era for the winery and the Sicilian wine business in the late 1950s, devoting
himself to the promotion of Sicilian wines and introducing a new business model based on quality
and innovation rather than quantity and bulk production. He invented the winery’s two flagship
wines: Rosso del Conte and Nozze d’Oro.
Almerita Brut Contea di Sclafani DOC
Created in 1990 as a sparkling wine for the friends of Count Giuseppe Tasca, this is a brut “millesimato”
or vintage wine. Made from 100% Chardonnay from the parcels with the best sun exposures, this is a
vintage brut made every year with estate-grown grapes. Almerita Brut, like all “methode champenoise”
sparkling wines, is produced by inducing a second fermentation of the base wine in the bottle. Almerita
Brut is patiently matured on the yeast for 24 months, during which it develops its classic aromas of
butter and brioche.
“Regaleali Bianco” Sicilia DOC
This was the first wine produced by Count Tasca d’Almerita on the Regaleali estate. Primarily a blend
of three Sicilian grapes: Inzolia, Catarratto, and Grecanico, with some Chardonnay, this wine is cool-
fermented in stainless steel to create a versatile, refreshing, and delicious white of true Sicilian character.