Preview Tre Bicchieri 2021. The best 26 wines of Sicily

Sep 24 2020, 08:11 | by Gambero Rosso

All the official previews of the wines awarded with the Tre Bicchieri recognition. Today we are in Sicily!

Everything seemed to be going well at the beginning of 2020, with reasonably exciting prospects. Instead the scenario, even in Sicily, changed suddenly: commercial circuits were blocked, foreign markets unexpectedly closed, difficulties arose that were neither foreseen nor imagined. All the Sicily players in wine tried to react with creativity: there have been problems (and there still are), but the wine planet has responded with energy and conviction, despite experiencing difficulties that have often led to understandable delays in bottling.

Sicilian wine and the generation change

From our observation point the scenario is still exciting, due to the constantly growing average quality, the liveliness, the technical-cultural evolution of the sector, the increasingly evident (and winning) combination of terroir and native grapes. Looking closely we also note something else that very important and incisive, which opens up new horizons. Many wineries have (or are in the process of) operating a generational transition: new subjects are at the helm, younger people, almost all with experience and an international vision, dynamic and motivated, who are giving new life and energy, strong of their significant studies, of long and important experiences outside the region, of new sensibilities.

The great cultivars of Sicily and the Etna continent

Another puzzle piece, a further acquisition is added to this exciting scene: catarratto, grillo, inzolia, zibibbo, carricante have now finally become - both concretely and in the collective imagination - great native cultivars at the base of great wines. There are 26 Tre Bicchieri winners in Sicily this year, which confirm the state of this wonderful land's condition, a continent that surprisingly includes another, Etna. We highlight only the novelties: the Cerasuolo di Vittoria Il Para Para '17 from Poggio di Bortolone is a happy marriage between terroir and native grape varieties. Tre Bicchieri, for the first time, also bestowed to the surprising Etna Bianco Trainara '18 by Generazione Alessandro. Lastly, Etna Rosso Qubba '18 of Monteleone, by Giulia Monteleone and Benedetto Alessandro, takes the highest position on the podium.

Cerasuolo di Vittoria Giambattista Valli '18 - Feudi del Pisciotto

Cerasuolo di Vittoria Il Para Para '17 - Poggio di Bortolone

Etna Bianco Alta Mora '19 - Alta Mora

Etna Bianco Arcuria '18 - Graci

Etna Bianco Pietrarizzo '19 - Tornatore

Etna Bianco Trainara '18 - Generazione Alessandro

Etna Rosso Contrada Santo Spirito Part. 468 '16 - Palmento Costanzo

Etna Rosso Erse Contrada Moscamento 1911 '17 - Tenuta di Fessina

Etna Rosso Lenza di Munti 720 slm '17 - Nicosia

Etna Rosso Passorosso '18 – Passopisciaro

Etna Rosso Qubba '18 - Monteleone

Etna Rosso San Lorenzo '18 – Girolamo Russo