d’Avola at Occhipinti
Perhaps it is not by chance that Inspector Montalbano, the character born from the pen of Andrea Camilleri, is an incurable gourmet. His adventures both in the novels and on screen are set in the territory of Ragusa, in southeastern Sicily. The area is renowned for its eight historic Baroque cities in the Val di Noto, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002. It is also considered to be the ‘Sicilian Food Valley’, a treasure trove of starred restaurants and local specialities, such as extra virgin olive oil or Ragusano cheese.
Scroll down to see a selection of 10 Cerasuolo di Vittoria reds to try
Cerasuolo di Vittoria was born here, and it is the only DOCG wine on the island. Winemaker Arianna Occhipinti believes the region’s history holds great importance: ‘I feel a deep connection with this land. Its wealth dates back to ancient times.’ Occhipinti’s winery is located in the town of Vittoria, near the SP68 road, which follows the course of an ancient pathway that connected coastal towns. The discovery of 3,000-year-old amphorae and grape seeds may make it the oldest ‘wine route’ in the world.
