Bonincontro Melovivo Frappato Vittoria

Bonincontro's Frappato from Vittoria comes from the southeastern corner of Sicily, the only DOCG zone on the island. Frappato is among Sicily's lightest red grapes, and the wines it makes are usually pale to medium ruby in the glass. Expect a fragrant nose of fresh red fruit, typically wild strawberry, red cherry and raspberry, with floral hints of violet or rose petal and sometimes a trace of white pepper or dried herb. Styles like this are generally light-bodied, with very soft tannins and bright, refreshing acidity. The finish tends to be short to medium and clean, with fruit rather than oak leading. Wines of this type are most often made without heavy oak influence, so don't look for vanilla or toast. Frappato's low tannin and lively acidity make it one of the more flexible reds at the table. It suits dishes that would overwhelm a heavier wine. Try it with grilled tuna or swordfish, roasted chicken, or pasta in a tomato sauce with basil. Sicilian classics are a natural match: caponata, pasta alla Norma, or arancini. It also goes well with charcuterie, mild semi-soft cheeses and mushroom dishes. Avoid pairing it with heavily spiced or very rich, fatty cuts of red meat, where the delicate fruit would be lost. Serve it slightly cooler than most reds, around 13 to 15°C (55 to 59°F). Twenty to thirty minutes in the fridge before opening is usually enough, and the bottle can sit in an ice bucket briefly on a warm day. Decanting isn't necessary for a wine this light, though a few minutes in the glass will open up the aromatics. A standard red wine glass or a medium-sized, tulip-shaped glass with a slightly narrowed rim works well, because it concentrates the floral and red-berry aromas. As a rule, Frappato is made to be enjoyed young, and this is a drink-now bottle rather than one to cellar. Its appeal lies in freshness and perfume, which fade with long storage. Keep it somewhere cool and dark, and plan to open it within a couple of years of purchase for the liveliest fruit.