The Vittoria estate: In the lands of the Baroque, between the Hyblaean plateau and the sea.

A Frappato di Vittoria with great freshness and soft tannins, a fragrant red that amazes with its immediate pleasantness.

“They are productions of great tradition – says Antonio Rallo, head of the company together with his sister José – that allow us to propose the excellence of Sicilian wine from different territories; in addition to our historic commitment at Contessa Entellina, in the heart of western Sicily, and on the island of Pantelleria, with the 2016 harvest we have therefore launched the production on Etna and in the Vittoria area. We are very confident: Bell’Assai will be a delightful discovery.”

“The name Bell’Assai – José Rallo explains – is that of the girl depicted on the artistic label with which we wanted to celebrate the love for the beautiful. Inspired by my mother Gabriella and designed by Stefano Vitale, it depicts the young Bell’Assai, a girl of character who is offering the fruits of the vineyard and the scents of the countryside to the sweet Sicilian breeze. She represents the spirit of those enterprising families, lovers of beauty that have always animated the territory of Vittoria.”

Vittoria is a zone that is highly suitable for winegrowing, located between the Hyblean plateau and the sea in south-east Sicily. Here – in the territory of Acate – Donnafugata manages about 18 hectares of vineyards in production with 11 hectares of Nero d’Avola and 7 of Frappato.

Frappato is one of the most ancient Sicilian grape varieties: it loves the warm temperate and dry climate, the cluster is compact, with thin-skinned berries that have a high concentration of aromatic components (terpenes).

Bell’Assai is a single variety Frappato that has a brilliant ruby red color with violet reflections, a fragrant bouquet with strawberries, raspberries and flowery scents of violets and roses. In the mouth it surprises with its great freshness, soft tannins and immediate pleasantness.

Bell’Assai, a single variety Frappato, Vittoria Doc, with great freshness and soft tannins. A fragrant red with intense floral notes of freesia and lavender combined with aromas of red fruits that enhance its immediate pleasantness.

PRODUCTION ZONE: south-east Sicily, in the territory of Acate.
DENOMINATION: Vittoria Doc Frappato Sicilia
GRAPES: Frappato
TERRAINS & CLIMATE: altitude 120-150 meters a.s.l.; gently sloping terrains; soils tending towards sandy interspersed with a substratum of calcareous tuff and medium-textured soils. The climate is typically Mediterranean, warm temperate, mitigated by a sea breeze during the summer, as well as by a wide variation between day and night temperatures.

VINEYARD: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning, leaving 6 to 10 buds per plant. Planting density 4,000-4,500 plants per hectare (1,619 - 1,822 an acre); yields of 7.0 – 8.0 tons/hectare (2.8 - 3.2 t/acre)

VINTAGE In Acate, in the Vittoria area, vintage 2021 was less rainy than the average (282mm compared to the average of 410mm). The lower rainfall recorded have been compensated by irrigation which favored the regular vegetative-productive cycle; the Frappato grapes thus reached an ideal sugar, aromatic and phenolic ripeness, a premise for wines of particular fragrance and pleasantness. *The precipitation data are collected by SIAS, Sicilian Agrometeorological Service in Acate; the rainfall recorded from October 1st to September 30th of the following year is considered; the average is calculated starting from the 2007 harvest.

HARVESTING: harvest began at the beginning of September and ended in the third decade of the month.

VINIFICATION: fermentation in stainless steel with maceration on the skins for about 8-9 days at a temperature of 24-25°C (75,2- 77°F). After malolactic fermentation, aging in tank for 4 months and then in bottle for at least 5 months.

ANALYTICAL DATA: alcohol 13.12 % vol., total acidity: 5.5 g/l., pH: 3.50.

TASTING NOTES (01/06/2022): With a ruby red color with violet reflections, Bell’Assai 2021 radiates intense floral notes of freesia and lavender followed by fruity aromas of strawberry and cherry. On the palate it is fresh and fragrant with a soft tannin and a pleasant return of fruity notes.

LONGEVITY: 3-4 years.

FOOD & WINE: perfect to sip from a glass, it accompanies grilled vegetables, salumi and tasty fish dishes such as soups. Also excellent with tuna sushi. Serve in medium-size glasses, it can be uncorked at time of serving, excellent at 59-61°F.

WHEN YOU DESIRE TO: explore the scents and flavors of a Sicily that takes you by surprise. Experience the wonders of this region with every sip. Surprise others with an unusual gift.

DIALOGUE WITH ART: Bell’Assai is a girl with personality who offers to the sweet Sicilian breeze the fruits of the vineyards and the scents of the countryside. She represents the spirit of those enterprising families with the love for beauty which have always been animating the territory of Vittoria. An artistic label with which Donnafugata wants to celebrate the love for the beautiful.

FIRST VINTAGE: 2016.