Wine Club: June 2026
A long-awaited wine club theme for us, we’ve always loved the wines of Sicily and we tried one this spring that instigated making a Sicily club happen sooner than later! That wine is the Lamoresco ‘Nerocapitano’, an astonishingly pretty red from the local Frappato grape. Frappato is one of the three indigenous red grapes, with Nero d’Avola and Nerello Mascalese, that sees cultivation across much of Sicily. Our rosé this month is also Frappato and the second red is Nerello Mascalese. The white, though, is actually not Sicilian at all. It’s 100% Greco from Calabria, just across the strait of Messina. Calabria sees very similar growing conditions to Sicily but doesn’t produce nearly as much wine. As we’ve never had a Calabrian wine in the shop, this was an opportunity to showcase an excellent, super-approachable cuvee from this under-appreciated region.
The history of Sicilian and Calabrian wine is also fairly intertwined. Like most of the Mediterranean growing regions, grapes were introduced here by the Greeks and Phoenicians as they raced west establishing colonies. Calabria was famous throughout ancient history for their white wine ‘Krimisa’ which has come to be known as Ciro - the white you’ll be enjoying this month! Sicily’s wine was focused around port towns such as Messina, Syracuse and Marsala (famous for sweet wines now). The interior of Sicily was the rich breadbasket of ancient Rome, producing much of the empire’s wheat. Now vineyards dot the entire landscape of the island. The finest examples come from the north and east-facing slopes of Mount Etna, which protects the vineyards from the harsh sunlight and the Scirocco - hot winds sweeping north from the Sahara.
The red from Calabretta is an easy-drinking example of what Mount Etna’s terroir can produce, for a more serious option we have another wine from Calabretta that’s a single-vineyard old vine Nerello Mascalese from the 2015 vintage that’s a quite gorgeous drinking experience.
Librandi 'Cirò Bianco’
Calabria
The Grapes
100% Greco
Tasting Notes
Ripe citrus notes, lemon and lime, layered with wild herbs and slatey minerality. A touch of pleasant almond bitterness that lingers in the lemon zest finish.
Pairing Suggestions
Perfect for this Calabrian twist on a simple shrimp recipe.
Can it Age?
Drink now.
Caruso e Minini ‘Frappo’
Sicily
The Grapes
100% Frappato
Tasting Notes
Vibrant notes of fresh oranges, young strawberries and juicy watermelon all pulled together with a nice line of minerality. Pleasant finish of grated orange peel and berries.
Pairing Suggestions
Perfect appetizer or patio wine. A simple spread of cheeses and crackers (check out our cheese cooler!)
Can it Age?
Drink now!
Lamoresco ‘Nerocapitano’
Sicily
The Grapes
100% Frappato
Tasting Notes
Richly perfumed, light-bodied red perfect for a light chill. Fresh raspberries and cherries. Layers of oregano, bay leaf, eucalyptus, lavender and rose dance around the palate. Long, savory finish with just enough acid to keep your mouth watering.
Pairing Suggestions
A pizza wine at it’s finest! This Sicilan ‘za recipe from Serious Eats should do wonders.
Can it Age?
Recommend drinking young, with a slight chill.
Calabretta ‘Gaio Gaio’
Mount Etna, Sicily
The Grapes
100% Nerello Mascalese
Tasting Notes
Medium bodied and exploding with fruit. Raspberries, black cherries, currants, brambly dark fruit. Some forest floor and fresh-turned soil elevate this wine above a simple table wine. A classic Italian red.
Pairing Suggestions
No need to overthink this, Pasta Alla Norma is a classic and perfect pairing for this wine.
Can it Age?
Up to four years.
