Firriato, Sicilia DOC (Sicily, Italy) 2019

 Jasmin is the perfect name for this wine, one that beckons with its enticing aromas of orange blossom, honeysuckle, ripe peach and mandarin orange.  In the mouth, the wine is dry with peachy, ripe melon flavors laced with saline mineral notes, lifted by crisp citrus acidity.  It is a welcoming aperitif and will complement fried shrimp, or Sicilian-style baked ricotta.  The Firriato wine company, owned by the di Gaetano family, has six estates in Sicily, four in the province of Trapani on the easternmost side, one on the small island of Favignana off the coast of Trapani, and one on Mt. Etna.  This wine was made at the Borgo Guarini estate, which has a 400-plus acre vineyard.  The grape variety Zibibbo is actually Moscato di Alessandria, or Muscat of Alexandria, and according to Ian D’Agata’s Native Wine Grapes of Italy, the Zibibbo name was documented in 1563 while Moscato di Alessandria first appeared in print in 1713.  In Wine Grapes by Robinson, et al., the authors note that in Italy far more Moscato di Alessandria is grown for table wines, but wine grapes are called Zibibbo.  Okay, lesson over.  The test will be to open a bottle.