Delia Nivolelli Wine

Delia Nivolleli is an Italian wine DOC in the far west of Sicily, covering red and white (rosso and bianco) wines from the area around the famous town of Marsala. The wines gained DOC status in June 1998, at the same time as those of Sciacca, just down the coast. The catchment area from which the grapes may come is effectively an enclave within that of the Marsala DOC: Mazara del Vallo, Petrosino, Salemi and Marsala itself are the key communes here.

The wines made under the two titles have very little in common stylistically, though. While Marsala is a deeply flavored, golden fortified wine, Delia Novelleli wines are typically dry; there is not even a sweet dolce or late-harvest vendemmia tardiva version here as in other local DOCs.

Delia Novelleli wines come in various forms, numbering more than ten as of 2010. First come the standard rosso and bianco forms: the former is made from at least 65% of Grecanico, Inzolia and Grillo combined; the latter is based on a slightly more generous list of varieties including Perricone, Nero d'Avola, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. As is almost standard for Sicilian DOCs, the rosso wines have the option of becoming riserva if aged for 24 months prior to release. There is also a white foaming Delia Nivolelli Spumante, although it is relatively rare.

Typically of Sicily's new forward-looking attitude to making and marketing wine, the wines may also be sold as varietals (if they include a minimum 85% of the stated variety). Any one of the varieties stated above is allowed, but so are Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Damaschino and, surprisingly to many, Muller-Thurgau.