Passito

Passito

The origin of the grape-drying technique is lost in time along with the tradition of making wine from sultanas, or raisins, which have a high concentration of sugar due to the gradual evaporation of the water. Passito, or sweet wine, is now associated with a number of traditions in wine production around the world, and there are three main types: drying on the vine or in special rooms, late harvesting and so-called "ice wines". These are the methods used to obtain an unforgettably sweet wine characterised by intense aromas and captivating sugary sensations, followed by a full and remarkably persistent taste. The best results are obtained thanks to a skilful use of the drying technique, which requires a great knowledge of the behaviour of the vine and the waiting time. In this way, it is possible to obtain nectars with a high aromatic concentration, capable of offering unforgettable emotions.

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Passito
98 results
Only 5 left!
Passito di Pantelleria 'Ben Ryé' Donnafugata 2022 - 37.5cl
5/5
Bibenda
94/100
Robert Parker
3/3
Gambero Rosso
Donnafugata
2022 | 5 cl / 14.5% | Sicilia (Italy)
34,00 
34,00 
Last One Left!
Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice 'Amelia' La Palazzola 2013 - 37.5cl
4/4
Vitae AIS
5/5
Bibenda
La Palazzola
2013 | 5 cl / 12.5% | Umbria (Italy)
26,40 €23,80 
23,80 
Malvasia delle Lipari 'Punta Aria' Pinnata 2020 - 37.5cl
Punta Aria - Pinnata di Pollastri
2020 | 5 cl / 13% | Sicilia (Italy)
27,60 
27,60 
Only 2 left!
Tre Filer' Ca' dei Frati 2021 - 37.5cl
Ca' dei Frati
2021 | / 13% | Lombardia (Italy)
13,20 
13,20 
Only 2 left!
Passito di Pantelleria 'Ben Ryé' Donnafugata 2022 - 37.5cl (Confezione)
3/3
Gambero Rosso
Donnafugata
2022 | 5 cl / 14.5% | Sicilia (Italy)
35,00 
35,00 
Last One Left!
Aleatico dell'Elba Acquabona 2018 - 37.5cl
3/4
Vitae AIS
2/3
Slowine
Acquabona
2018 | 5 cl / 13.5% | Toscana (Italy)
41,10 
41,10 
Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale '11 Filari' San Marzano 2022 - 50cl
San Marzano
2022 | 50 cl / 18% | Puglia (Italy)
15,50 
15,50 
Il Longhino' Dario Coos 2022
4/5
Bibenda
89/100
Veronelli
Coos Dario
2022 | 75 cl / 13.5% | Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy)
17,00 
17,00 
Erbaluce di Caluso Passito 'Talin' Ilaria Salvetti 2020
3/4
Vitae AIS
Salvetti Ilaria
2020 | / 12% | Piemonte (Italy)
28,20 
28,20 
Only 3 left!
Passito di Pantelleria 'Ben Ryé' Donnafugata 2022 - 75cl
5/5
Bibenda
94/100
Veronelli
3/3
Gambero Rosso
Donnafugata
2022 | 75 cl / 14.5% | Sicilia (Italy)
64,00 
64,00 
Torcolato di Breganze Maculan 2022 - 37.5cl
94/100
James Suckling
95/100
Veronelli
2/3
Gambero Rosso
Maculan
2022 | / 14% | Veneto (Italy)
19,90 
19,90 
Passito 'Sol' Ezio Cerruti - 37.5cl
Cerruti Ezio
5 cl / 15% | Piemonte (Italy)
35,00 
35,00 
Only 4 left!
Albana di Romagna Passito 'Thea' Tre Monti 2023 - 50cl
4/5
Bibenda
87/100
Veronelli
3/4
Vitae AIS
Tre Monti
2023 | 50 cl / 12.5% | Emilia Romagna (Italy)
21,50 
21,50 
Only 4 left!
Moscato di Scanzo Biava 2018 - 50cl
2/3
Slowine
Biava
2018 | 50 cl / 15% | Lombardia (Italy)
74,30 
74,30 
Only 3 left!
Moscato Passito 'La Bella Estate' Vite Colte 2022
4/5
Bibenda
90/100
Veronelli
2/3
Gambero Rosso
Vite Colte
2022 | 75 cl / 11% | Piemonte (Italy)
26,00 
26,00 
Only 2 left!
Albana di Romagna Passito Fattoria Monticino Rosso 2020 - 50cl
2/3
Gambero Rosso
90/100
Veronelli
3/4
Vitae AIS
Fattoria Monticino Rosso
2020 | 50 cl / 13.5% | Emilia Romagna (Italy)
23,30 
23,30 
Only 6 left!
Pass the Cookies Di Lenardo - 50cl
2/3
Gambero Rosso
Di Lenardo
50 cl / 12% | Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy)
14,10 
14,10 
Only 5 left!
Moscato Passito 'Redento' La Caudrina 2020
La Caudrina
2020 | 50 cl / 12.5% | Piemonte (Italy)
16,00 
16,00 
Moscato Rosa 'Pasithea Rosa' Girlan 2023 - 37.5cl
Girlan
2023 | / 13% | Alto Adige (Italy)
27,50 
27,50 
Only 4 left!
Passito di Pantelleria 'Mueggen' Salvatore Murana 2014 - 50cl
Murana Salvatore
2014 | 50 cl / 15% | Sicilia (Italy)
38,60 
38,60 
Torcolato di Breganze Maculan 2022 - 75cl
94/100
James Suckling
95/100
Veronelli
2/3
Gambero Rosso
Maculan
2022 | 75 cl / 14% | Veneto (Italy)
39,00 
39,00 
Last One Left!
Passito 'Clematis' Zaccagnini 2015 - 37.5cl
4/4
Vitae AIS
4/5
Bibenda
Zaccagnini
2015 | 5 cl / 13% | Abruzzo (Italy)
44,00 
44,00 
Passito 'Clematis' Zaccagnini 2016 - 37.5cl
4/4
Vitae AIS
4/5
Bibenda
Zaccagnini
2016 | / 13% | Abruzzo (Italy)
43,50 
43,50 
Ramandolo Vendemmia Tardiva Dario Coos 2022 - 50cl
91/100
Veronelli
2/3
Gambero Rosso
Coos Dario
2022 | 50 cl / 13.5% | Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy)
23,00 
23,00 
Passito di Pantelleria 'Nes' Pellegrino 2023
Pellegrino
2023 | 50 cl / 14.5% | Sicilia (Italy)
30,50 
30,50 
Moscato Passito 'La Bella Estate' Vite Colte 2022 - 37.5cl
4/5
Bibenda
90/100
Veronelli
2/3
Gambero Rosso
Vite Colte
2022 | / 11% | Piemonte (Italy)
16,00 
16,00 
Picolit Dario Coos 2020 - 50cl
4/5
Bibenda
3/4
Vitae AIS
91/100
Veronelli
Coos Dario
2020 | 50 cl / 13.5% | Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy)
40,50 
40,50 
Only 4 left!
Passito di Nocera 'Kio' Cambria 2018 - 37.5cl
4/5
Bibenda
88/100
Veronelli
Cambria
2018 | 5 cl / 14.5% | Sicilia (Italy)
31,70 
31,70 
Recioto della Valpolicella Camerani - Corte Sant'Alda 2019 - 50cl
3/4
Vitae AIS
90/100
Veronelli
Camerani
2019 | 50 cl / 15% | Veneto (Italy)
39,90 
39,90 
Only 2 left!
Passito di Caluso 'Sulé' Orsolani 2019 - 37.5cl
5/5
Bibenda
3/4
Vitae AIS
2/3
Gambero Rosso
Orsolani
2019 | 5 cl / 13% | Piemonte (Italy)
26,90 
26,90 
Recioto di Soave 'Col Foscarin' Gini 2016 - 37.5cl
98/100
James Suckling
93/100
Veronelli
Gini
2016 | 5 cl / 13% | Veneto (Italy)
29,60 €26,60 
26,60 
Only 5 left!
Passito di Pantelleria 'Decennale' Ferrandes 2014 - 37.5cl
Ferrandes
2014 | / 14.5% | Sicilia (Italy)
58,00 
58,00 
Sauternes 'Castelnau' Chateau Suduiraut 2022 - 37.5cl
Château Suduiraut
2022 | / 13.5% | Bordeaux (France)
26,90 
26,90 
Only 4 left!
Gewurztraminer Passito Sanct Valentin 'Comtess' San Michele Appiano 20
93/100
James Suckling
2/3
Gambero Rosso
San Michele Appiano
2023 | / 11.5% | Alto Adige (Italy)
39,10 
39,10 
Picolit La Roncaia 2019 - 37.5cl
5/5
Bibenda
3/4
Vitae AIS
92/100
James Suckling
La Roncaia
2019 | / 13% | Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy)
28,00 
28,00 
Only 4 left!
Chambave Muscat Passito 'Prieuré' La Crotta di Vegneron 2020 - 37.5cl
4/5
Bibenda
3/4
Vitae AIS
2/3
Gambero Rosso
La Crotta di Vegneron
2020 | 5 cl / 14% | Valle d'Aosta (Italy)
24,90 
24,90 
Passito di Pantelleria 'Bukkuram - Padre della Vigna' Marco De Bartoli
5/5
Bibenda
De Bartoli
2021 | 50 cl / 14.5% | Sicilia (Italy)
95,00 
95,00 
Only 4 left!
Gewurztraminer Vendemmia Tardiva 'Pasithea Oro' Girlan 2023 - 37.5cl
Girlan
2023 | / 12% | Alto Adige (Italy)
35,00 
35,00 
Only 3 left!
Passito 'Privilegio' Feudi di San Gregorio 2022 - 37.5cl
92/100
James Suckling
Feudi di San Gregorio
2022 | 5 cl / 12.5% | Campania (Italy)
26,50 
26,50 
Last One Left!
Aestas Siciliae' Cos 2022 - 37.5cl
Cos
2022 | / 16% | Sicilia (Italy)
21,90 
21,90 
Only 6 left!
Vin Santo del Chianti Riserva I Veroni 2013 - 37.5cl
93/100
James Suckling
2/3
Slowine
I Veroni
2013 | 5 cl / 15% | Toscana (Italy)
39,10 
39,10 
Moscato Passito di Saracena Cantine Viola 2020 - 50cl
3/3
Gambero Rosso
3/4
Vitae AIS
Cantine Viola
2020 | 50 cl / 14% | Calabria (Italy)
51,50 
51,50 
Passito 'Acininobili' Maculan 2018 - 37.5cl
3/4
Vitae AIS
95/100
Robert Parker
Maculan
2018 | 5 cl / 13.5% | Veneto (Italy)
52,80 
52,80 
Last One Left!
Malvasco' Le Anfore di Elena Casadei 2022
Olianas - Le Anfore
2022 | / 14% | Sardegna (Italy)
26,90 €21,50 
21,50 
Only 6 left!
Aleatico Sequerciani 2022 - 37.5cl
87/100
Veronelli
Sequerciani
2022 | / 15% | Toscana (Italy)
35,90 
35,90 
Recioto di Soave Classico 'Le Sponde' Coffele 2021 - 50cl
3/4
Vitae AIS
87/100
James Suckling
2/3
Gambero Rosso
Coffele
2021 | 50 cl / 14% | Veneto (Italy)
37,50 
37,50 
Last One Left!
Passito Gewurztraminer 'Cashmere' Elena Walch 2022 - 37.5cl
Walch Elena
2022 | 75 cl / 10.5% | Alto Adige (Italy)
75,00 
75,00 
Only 4 left!
Picolit di Cialla Ronchi di Cialla 2017 - 50cl
Ronchi di Cialla
2017 | 50 cl / 14.5% | Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy)
82,50 
82,50 

The Types and Techniques of Passito Production

Aromatic grapes, such as the different types of Muscat and Malvasia, Gewurztraminer and Riesling, up to the classic example of Semillon which has made Sauternes unique, are the most suitable varieties. Together with the type made from white grapes, there are also notable examples of red Passito, also capable of expressing sensational interpretations following a long period of rest in the cellar.

The first type is obtained by allowing the bunches of grapes to over-ripen on the vine for a few weeks, to obtain a particular abundance of fixed acids within the berries and a higher concentration of sugars, especially fructose, and extractive substances. Attention is periodically paid to the colour and turgidity of the berries themselves, to eliminate those affected by undesirable mould.

Following the harvest, the grapes are pressed and a thicker liquid with a higher alcohol content is obtained. A version that is quite rare in Italy, and which reaches its peak in France with Sauternes, is the one that involves the influence of Botrytis cinerea, a noble mould that particularly prefers humid areas. Its effect can cause the grapes to dry out over time, delaying the harvest several times.

The second type consists of drying the grapes in the sun or in special rooms. In particular, this second case uses artificial ventilation with heated air and controlled humidity. In this way, drying times are reduced and there is greater control over the extraction process. Occasionally, the grape bunches are hung inside a room and left to dry naturally, ensuring that the room is kept perfectly ventilated and constantly humid to prevent the growth of unwanted mould.

In the southern Italian regions, the grape bunches are spread out in the sun on special racks, as is used for the well-known Passito di Pantelleria, or hung on tightly-wound wires. The pressing and subsequent fermentation of the grapes usually takes place between December and February, but in some cases even later.

The third type is the so-called 'Icewine'. The bunches are left on the vine throughout the winter month and are harvested in January, encased by a characteristic layer of ice. The pressing itself takes place at low temperatures and the must is very poor in water, but dense in sugars.



The Main Organoleptic Characteristics

The passito wine offers silky and persistent characteristics to the palate, in its various shades, and scents of candied and dried fruits to the nose. Over-ripening renders this type of wine velvety to drink. Hints of exotic flavours and sultanas, followed by scents of dried and withered fruits can be attributed to the drying process, while jams and sweet spices are closer to the characteristics of "Icewine ".

This category, in its various versions, lends itself very well to pairing with desserts and dry pastries. It also goes well with blue and mature cheeses, creating a unique moment at the end of a meal, or perhaps just an after-dinner moment of meditation.



The Most Typical Expressions of the Different Areas

Some areas are particularly suited to the production of this particular wine. The late harvest type is particularly popular in northern Italy, in Alto Adige, Trentino and Veneto, and is characterised above all by its balance and smoothness. In Friuli, the Picolit variety is particularly interesting, as it is a standard bearer in this category and perfect to pair with local desserts.

Southern Italy offers a vast tradition of desserts that go perfectly well with Sicilian passito wine. The latter is characterised by warmer and brighter nuances both on the palate and during the tasting phase, and is marked by a pleasant freshness. Overall, each region boasts sweet wine specialities of great value, such as Albana Passito in Romagna and Vinsanto in Tuscany and Umbria.

Worldwide, some areas of Alsace, Germany and Austria offer remarkable examples. Specifically, a handful of municipalities in the Graves area, near Bordeaux, have a perfect microclimate for the growth of Botrytis cinerea. It is precisely its influence that has made the Sauternes denomination famous throughout the world, especially Château d'Yquem, whose Passito Bianco is a masterpiece in its category. The Semillon grapes, combined with a small percentage of Sauvignon and Muscadelle, are picked very carefully from the vine, berry by berry, when the rot is deemed to have withered the grapes sufficiently.

A similar technique can be found in Hungary in the Tokaji area, another of the so-called 'mouldy’ wines. The "Icewine" variety, on the other hand, is typical of Canada, Germany and Austria, but there are also excellent examples in Italy, especially in the north of the country.

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