Chardonnay 'Chiarandà' Donnafugata 2021

Donnafugata's "Chiarandà" Chardonnay is a Sicilian wine that was born in the context of a family-run winery with a hundred years of experience in the world of wine production behind it. The business was founded in 1851, with the Rallo family deciding to follow their passion for wine, following in the footsteps of English entrepreneurs. From generation to generation, culture and experience were handed down until 1983 with Giacomo Rallo, who made the winery the beating heart of wine entrepreneurship: he, in fact, represents the fourth generation at work and with the help of his wife Gabriella has been able to look to the future, expanding production and increasing the quality of the products. Today it is his sons José and Antonio who carry on the family business, keeping tradition and environmental sustainability in vogue.

Donnafugata's "Chiarandà" Chardonnay vineyards are located in the southwestern part, an excellent position for the sun's rays to hit the rows consistently, ensuring perfect final ripening of the grapes. The climate here is Mediterranean, with rainfall present especially in autumn and winter, while in summer, temperatures are high and dry with a conspicuous presence of winds; also important is the wide temperature range between day and night. The altitude is between 200 and 600 meters above sea level, and the soil is clayey with sub-alkaline concentration for wines with characterful structure. Harvesting is conducted manually in the early morning hours when the clusters have lower temperatures, lowering, thus, energy consumption. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in steel. Ages 8 months on the noble lees, part in oak and part in cement tanks; rests in bottle for 12 months.

To the eye, Donnafugata's Chardonnay "Chiarandà" is straw yellow in colour with bright highlights; the bouquet of aromas is intense and complex and reminiscent of citrus and lemon zest, ginger, floral notes of broom and dried fruit such as toasted hazelnut. In the mouth, it is structured, broad and pleasant with a savoury, mineral finish that balances the structure and recalls chalice after chalice. In pairing, it is perfect with shellfish and molluscs, velvety soups of seasonal vegetables, and smoked salmon; also interesting with roasted white meats. Perfect to accompany romantic dinners by the sea in summer and enjoy the genuine flavours of the Sicilian land.