Marilina Cuè Moscato

Surprising. Amazing. Unexpected. Who is it? This is how you could describe Cantina Marilina Cuè Moscato, a dry white wine made from Muscat grapes by Cantina Marilina. According to the winery, located in the southeast of Sicily (in the region of Syracuse), the faces of the tasters of this wine show great surprise after the first sip, because it is skilled at misleading. Given the expected smooth sip (typical of any muscat or sweet wine), Cantina Marilina Cuè Moscato is anything but what you would expect.

The grapes used to make this I.G.P. Terre Siciliane white wine grow in the Noto Valley, specifically in the Contrada San Lorenzo vineyard. Following a manual harvest in August, the grapes are taken to the winery in 10 kg crates. The health and quality of the clusters are enviable, because the grapes ripen easily and without any problems in this area. This is mainly due to the white-limestone soil (which provides finesse), the climate (mainly hot and sunny), the dry winds (which dehydrate the grapes and increase sugar) and the proximity to the sea (which makes temperature contrasts less marked).

Little by little these vinifications are becoming more and more common both in Spain and in other countries. For Cantina Marilina, the rest of the process takes place in cement tanks, where Cantina Marilina Cuè Moscato undergoes long macerations and minimal intervention. It stays here for 5 months, until the wine is bottled (unfiltered and unclarified, in recycled glass bottles with natural corks). Cantina Marilina Cuè Moscato stays there for 2 months, until it is finally ready to sell.

Stereotypes get old. Madonna said: “I don't like labels. They limit you, and I don’t want limits.” And little by little, the Muscat is managing to shake off its own. With Cantina Marilina Cuè Moscato this winery invites us to discover this variety’s potential. It pushes us to explore Muscat without preconceived ideas.