COLOUR
White
TYPE
Fortified
VINTAGE
2009
GRAPE
Grillo 100%
PRODUCER
Florio
REGION
Sicilia
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
The Marsala Vergine Riserva VR1609 by Florio is a distinguished fortified white wine from Sicily, Italy, produced in the Marsala DOC appellation. The vintage year of 2009 marks the fortification, with grapes harvested in 2008. It is made from 100% Grillo grapes and aged for 13 years in oak casks. Florio, a historic winery founded in 1833 and now part of the Duca di Salaparuta group, emphasizes the unique terroir of coastal Sicily. This particular expression is notable for its single-cask bottling and its aging location in a cellar very close to the Mediterranean Sea, which influences its character. The producer describes the fortification process as 'innamoramento,' or 'falling in love,' adding a poetic touch to its production.
ALCOHOL
18.5%
AVG. PRICE
€39
STYLE
Classic
SULPHITES
YES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
14-16°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
Aged in a cellar just 108 meters from the sea.
Fact 02
Fortification is poetically called 'falling in love' by the producer.
Fact 03
This is a single-cask bottling, with only 3,167 bottles produced.
Fact 04
The 'Vergine' classification means no cooked must or sweeteners are added.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
The Marsala Vergine Riserva VR1609 begins with hand-harvested Grillo grapes from the 2008 vintage, intentionally over-ripened on the vine to maximize sugar and polyphenol concentration. The must is pressed using traditional methods to extract color and dry extracts. Fermentation occurs in cement tanks with continuous micro-oxygenation, a process that also continues post-fermentation to prepare the wine. Fortification, termed 'innamoramento' by Florio, involves adding a small amount of vine-derived ethyl alcohol to halt fermentation. The wine then enters an extensive 13-year aging period in small oak casks, located in a cellar close to the sea, contributing to its distinctive profile. A total of 3,167 bottles were produced.
