Bianco G 2023

Nino Barraco is one of the pioneers of natural wine in Sicily, but rather than other local superstars in Etna or Alcamo, he is more lonesome over in Marsala. A region famed for fortified wine production.. of which a HUGE portion made is actually only used as cooking wine!

We visited the estate before we had fully set up MORE Natural Wine, and we impressed to see some vineyards have roots reaching literally into the sea! Some may argue this gives the wines a salinity, whilst others will argue in the name of science that this is technically impossible to get flavours delivered from root to grape. Thats a conversation for another day ;)

Nino Barraco makes his Bianco G 2023 with a lot of love. Using 50-60 year old bush vines inherited from his father, this wine spends 24 hours macerating on the skins before ten months of élevage on the lees in a changing combination of both old wooden barrels as well as concrete vats. Expect a saline approach, but also a slightly nutty profile with lots to offer. Quite gastronomic!

As for the name? Despite being heavily involved in creating the DOC for Grillo in Marsala, the darker colour did not work with the regulations, so ironically he is not allowed to call it Grillo!