Valle Belice
Styles
Principal grape varieties
AglianicoAlbanello Bianco (Albanello)Grenache (Garnacha Tinta)Alicante Henri BouschetAncellotta N. (Ancellotta)Ansonica B. (Ansonica)Barbera N. (Barbera Nera)Cabernet-FrancCabernet-SauvignonCalabreseCarignanCarricanteCatarratto Bianco Comune B. (Catarratto Bianco Comune)Cesanese ComuneChardonnayCheninCiliegiolo N. (Ciliegiolo)Corinto Nero (Corinto Nero (Non Identified))Damaschino B. (Planta Fina)FianoFrappato N. (Frappato Di Vittoria)Gaglioppo N. (Gaglioppo)Garganega B. (Garganega)Grillo B. (Grillo)Insolia (Ansonica)CotMalvasia Bianca (Malvasia Bianca Lunga)Malvasia Di Lipari (Malvasia Dubrovacka)Manzoni Bianco B. (Manzoni Bianco)MarselanMerlotMondeuse (Mondeuse Noire)MontepulcianoMontonico Bianco B. (Montonico Bianco)Muscat À Petits Grains BlancsMoscato Giallo B. (Moscato Giallo)Müller-Thurgau (Mueller Thurgau Weiss)Nerello Cappuccio N.Nerello Mascalese N. (Nerello Mascalese)Perricone N. (Perricone)Petit Manseng (Manseng Petit Blanc)Petit Verdot (Verdot Petit)Pinot NoirPinot GrisPinot BlancPrimitivoRiesling (Riesling Weiss)SangioveseSauvignonSemillonSyrahTannatTempranilloUgni Blanc (Trebbiano Toscano)VermentinoVernaccia Di San Gimignano B. (Vernaccia Di San Gimignano)ViognierMuscat D Alexandrie (Muscat Of Alexandria)
Terroir
Natural factors
- Predominantly clayey soils: Regosols, Brown Soils (up to 35% clay), Vertisols and Alluvial Soils, all with a neutral to alkaline reaction.
- Undulating hilly morphology with variable slopes, typical of the inner Sicilian argillaceous hills.
- Mediterranean climate: rainfall concentrated in autumn–winter, summer drought; mean annual precipitation of 700 mm.
- Temperatures ranging from approximately 11 °C (January–February) to 28–30 °C (July–August); relative humidity between 60% (summer) and 75% (winter).
- The zone encompasses the communes of Menfi, Montevago, Santa Margherita Belice (AG) and Contessa Entellina (PA), in the Valle del Belice.
Human factors
- Vine cultivation documented as early as the 6th century BC: wine amphorae recovered in the Greco-Selinuntine contrade and from the seabed at Capparrina attest to ancient export trade.
- Following the phylloxera crisis (early 1900s), Menfi attracted viticulturists on account of its coastal sandy dunes, which proved more resistant to phylloxera.
Terroir / wine link
- Clayey soils (regosols, vertisols, brown soils) and alluvial soils shape wines with a terroir character rooted in the undulating inner Sicilian hills.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Sources
- Regional grape register (PDF) — sicilia
- eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PGI-IT-A0811
- Official trade body site — Istituto Regionale del Vino e dell'Olio di Sicilia (IRVO)