2024 Rapitala Conte Hugues Chardonnay Terre Siciliane

Tenuta Rapitala comprises 225 hectares of vineyards located in the heart of Sicily. It was here that the parents of the current owner, Count Laurent Bernard De La Gatinais, started the winery in 1968. Thanks to the French roots of Count Laurent Bernard De La Gatinais's father, Rapitala was the first Sicilian winery to plant international grape varieties. Today, the winery is known for its high quality and diversity of wines, where tradition and innovation go hand in hand. In addition to winemaker Silvio Centonze, who is responsible for the cellar, agriculturalist Ignazio Arena works in the vineyards. Both aim to operate as environmentally friendly as possible. To achieve this, they utilize renewable energy sourced from wind turbines located on the hilltops surrounding the estate.

The name Rapitala is derived from Arabic and means "land of God." Arabic texts and architecture can still be found in abundance in Sicily because the island was Saracen in the past. This is what you call a world-class Sicilian. The wine is made from 100% Nero Syrah grapes. This Rapitalà Sire Nero Syrah Sicilia DOC is a delicious red wine with an intense red color and a powerful, Mediterranean character. On the nose, fruit aromas of blackberries and blackcurrants. On the palate, the wine has a fresh, spicy taste and is an ideal accompaniment to red meat, curry, and spicy food.

The De Conte Hugues is a beautiful Chardonnay that bears the family crest in honor of the founder of Tenuta Rapitalà – and is a reference to the French background of owner Laurent Bernard De La Gatinais. From the 2018 vintage onwards, the name Rapitalà Chardonnay Conte Hugues Terre Siciliane is also used, so the naming has changed (earlier vintages bore the name Grand Cru Chardonnay); it is and remains a beautiful Chardonnay that has undergone 10 months of oak aging. In the glass, the Rapitalà Grand Cru Chardonnay/Chardonnay Conte Hugues has a pale gold color. On the nose, this fine white wine has a bouquet with intense aromas of ripe fruit and toasted bread. On the palate, this magnificent Sicilian wine displays the typical fruity characteristics of Chardonnay with aromatic notes from the oak aging. This is a round, well-structured wine with a long, mouth-filling finish. It is a beautiful, concentrated, balanced, and gastronomic Chardonnay, which pairs excellently with white meat dishes, shellfish, smoked fish dishes, and foie gras.