The Frappato grape variety is almost exclusively found in the central-southern part of Sicily and from it derives the famous Cerasuolo or Frappato di Vittoria, an alcoholic and soft red wine. Like many varieties from Southern Italy, its origin dates back centuries, probably originating from the Iberian Peninsula. There are records of it in the Ragusa area since the 1600s, and its name, "frappatu" or "frappato," seems to refer to the term fruity, a prominent characteristic of the wine's enticing bouquet.
Together with another famous Sicilian grape variety, Nero d'Avola, it contributes to the production of the DOCG Cerasuolo di Vittoria (50/70% Nero d'Avola and 50-30% Frappato). But it's the vinification in purity that has made it famous, especially in recent decades, when the identity and perception of Sicilian reds began to change, often traditionally considered only full-bodied, warm, and powerful. Thanks to the rediscovery of the Etna area and its main grape variety, Nerello Mascalese, and the valorization of Frappato in purity, Sicilian red wines have established themselves in the sign of elegance, sophistication, and interesting versatility in food pairings.
The soils of the Ragusa area, mainly characterized by sandy components of calcareous and siliceous nature, the presence of compact clay layers, and deeper layers of limestone tuffs, are the ideal cradle for Frappato. Traditionally cultivated with the "alberello" system, with short pruning and low yields, it is an early and late-maturing grape variety, usually harvested towards the end of September. It has compact clusters, medium-sized berries, with a thick skin of blue-violet color, covered by pruina.
When vinified in purity, it offers a wine with a bright ruby red color, light and transparent. The aromas are intense, delicately winey, fruity, and floral. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, with crisp aromas of red fruit, pleasantly fresh, harmonious, savory, and mineral, with soft and balanced tannins. Precisely because of its particular characteristics, atypical red and with a strong personality, it finds versatile and interesting pairings at the table: traditional Ragusa dishes, fish soup, vegetable and fish couscous, tuna sushi, swordfish, bluefish, typical local cold cuts, and cheeses. In addition to contributing to the aforementioned Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, Frappato is also present in the DOCs: Vittoria, Eloro, Sicilia, Erice, and Alcamo.
The Frappato with the best quality-price ratio
Here are the best Frappato wines available in wine shops and online shops for less than 20 euros among those featured in the Vini d'Italia and Berebene 2024 guides by Gambero Rosso.
Dumè 2022 by Gorghi Tondi confirms all its class, finesse, and delightful drinkability, reaching the final with Two Red Glasses. Characterized by elegant nuances of wild strawberries, pomegranate, and watermelon, on the palate, it is lively and vivacious, with a linear and convincing personality, fragrant with fruit and Mediterranean herbs, agile and subtle, with an enchanting gustatory seduction. Gorghi Tondi is an immense estate nestled in a beautiful environmental and landscape context, a stone's throw from the sea, with two fascinating lakes, also a WWF Nature Reserve, acquired by the Sala family at the end of the 19th century. Papa Michele developed its characters of sun, nature, and beauty, leaving finally to his hard-working daughters Annamaria and Clara, assisted by mom Doretta, the task of continuing the work in the sign of the goodness of wines, their drinkability, and clear elegant character.
Frappato 2022 by Valle dell'Acate is always in great shape, an exemplary wine for olfactory clarity, with notes of cherry, sour cherry, and strawberry, terroir-grape harmony, and pleasant drinkability.
The Carolina Marengo Kisa Frappato 2021 is produced by Feudi del Pisciotto, also known for the excellent Moro di Testa, Syrah of rare elegance and balance.
Elegant and very pleasant is the Frappato Bell'Assai 2022 by Donnafugata. An authentic icon of Sicilian wine, the company is one of the most recognizable internationally, present in over 60 markets: Donnafugata's figures even make teetotallers dizzy. Josè and Antonio Rallo, under the guidance of their mother Gabriella, continue the success story started over 40 years ago by Giacomo: five wineries, including the historic headquarters in Marsala, four reference terroirs, and the excellence of the Sicilian vineyard: Contessa Entellina, Pantelleria, Vittoria, and Etna.
Frappato 2022 by Tasca d'Almerita is characterized by its close bond with the territory, as indeed are the other wines produced by Tasca d'Almerita, one of the largest and most dynamic realities in Sicily, with its five estates scattered throughout the Sicilian territory, from the Aeolian Islands to Etna passing through Regaleali, that of the Inoltre family, it stands out for being among the most attentive to the environment and sustainability.
Fondo Filara 2022 by Cantine Nicosia is one of the wines produced by Carmelo Nicosia and his sons Francesco and Graziano, who lead the beautiful family maison, dating back to 1898, which has made high quality and wines of the territory with a marked character some of its distinctive features. The market success and critical acclaim have encouraged the company to invest significantly also in the Ragusa and Noto areas, with valuable results. The contribution of winemaker Maria Carella is remarkable, whose sensitivity is responsible for unforgettable labels.
Frappato Laetitya 2022 is one of the wines produced by Casa Grazie, a reality firmly led by Maria Grazia di Francesco, which has achieved very good results also with Zahara '22, a Grillo in purity with fruity and floral hints of jasmine and orange blossom, herbal notes, with a fresh and savory sip, and Syrah Emiryam '20, rich and complex on the nose, powerful and full-bodied on the palate.
Very good Frappato Mazal 2021, rich in scents of faded flowers, minty and undergrowth notes for a well-balanced sip and a long and persistent finish. A happy synergy between a group of small suppliers from the Valle del Belìce and the prestigious Orestiadi Foundation, which was established in 2008. The reference vineyards are almost all located in the surroundings of Gibellina, home of the winery, and the goal has always been to produce wines with a typically territorial face, while enhancing the related cultural and artistic aspects. It also produces on Etna, in the beautiful La Gelsomina estate, in Piedimonte Etneo.
Frappato Sikelia 2022 is one of the labels of the main estate of the Patrì family, whose main headquarters is located in Butera, in the Sicilian hinterland, where elegant and territorial wines are produced mainly using autochthonous cultivars such as Nero d'Avola and Grillo. For some time now, the Patrìs have also been producing wines on the southeastern side of Mount Etna.
Frappato 2022 by Planeta is one of the wines produced by the renowned winery, which in 2023 saw the premature passing of Vito, animator and creator of the splendid cultural initiatives of Casa Planeta; at the wish of Alessio, Santi, and Francesca, these will continue to constitute one of the most beautiful peculiarities of this winery, which since its first labels, released almost thirty years ago, has represented a model for the entire Sicilian wine movement, in which territorial identity, quality viticulture, sustainability, and environmental protection coexist harmoniously.
Frappato 2022 is one of the various very good level wines produced by the Cosenza family, which for two centuries has cultivated the land of the FeudoPoggio di Bortolone, 60 hectares at the confluence of two streams, Para Para and Mazzarronello, in the heart of the territory of the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG. The vineyards represent about a quarter of the company's surface area and occupy the hills and alluvial soils; the grapes are exclusively black berry: Nero d'Avola and Frappato, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Grosso Nero, a local grape variety at risk of extinction.
Frappato 2022 by Tenuta Bastonaca is juicy and drinkable. The family-run company has been at the top of the quality scale for territorial wines with a strong personality for years, curated by the talent of winemaker Benedetto Alessandro. But Silvana Raniolo, always a woman of wine, and her husband Giovanni Calcaterra, winemakers also by ancient family traditions, have looked beyond their beautiful reality, acquiring some hectares on Mount Etna and in Pantelleria, with already surprising results.
Always very reliable Biscaris, a small winery with a happy artisanal approach inserted in the biodynamic world. In addition to Frappato 2022, the Nero d'Avola 2020 is also exemplary, very typical and territorial, fine and beautiful to drink, which conquers with its hints of laurel, undergrowth, capers, and Mediterranean herbs.
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