Riding on the success of Marsala, Sicilians made huge developments in wine production, and wine soon became an important pillar of the island's economic structure. In 1773 an English merchant by the name of John Woodhouse would help bring Marsala to the world. The next important step in the history of Sicilian wine would come many years later. This, in turn, helped stabilize the economy. 872 to 1061, wine production in Sicily declined, but developments directly following that period rejuvenated the island's export business. Wine was essential for celebrating mass, and religious leaders became experts in viniculture.įrom A.D. As was the case when Byzantines conquered the area, the church did a great deal to facilitate growth in wine production. One Sicilian wine in particular, Mamertino, garnered a following among nobles and is said to have been Julius Caesar's favorite. It didn't take long for the wines to gain recognition throughout the ancient world. When the Romans took control of Sicily, they spread wine from the region around the empire. The region is in constant competition with the Apulia wine region to produce the most wine in Italy.Ĭheck out the next page to learn about the history and culture of Sicily. Today, vineyards cover 329,923 acres (134,000 hectares) of Sicilian land and produce a whopping 213 million gallons (806 million liters) of wine every year. (See page 4 for more about the DOC system.) In fact, the majority of DOC wines from the island are sweet wines, such as Marsala - which was largely responsible for bringing worldwide attention to Sicilian wines. Of all the wines that Sicily has to offer the world, the most famous are dessert wines. The mild Mediterranean climate also helps, as do the mountains and hilly terrain, which provide ideal locations for vineyards. If the soil were richer, wine production might never have evolved on the island as it did. This is in large part because of its soil, which is ideal for growing grapes but almost useless for the cultivation of any other crops. Wine is one of Sicily's greatest contributions to the world. When it's finished in 2012, it will be the longest bridge in the world. Recent plans have been put in motion to build a 3.2-mile (3,666-meter) bridge that will connect the island to the rest of Italy. At its narrowest point the strait is a mere 2 miles (3.2 km) wide, so you can stand on either shore and easily see the other. The Strait of Messina separates Sicily from the Italian mainland. All of these cultures contributed to Sicily's history and influenced the production of wine throughout the region - though not all of their influences were positive. In 1860 it became part of the new Italian state. At one time or another, it was inhabited by the Siculians (after which it was named), Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Germans and Spanish. The island's location has helped it become one of the world's most diverse melting pots. Sicily - if your first thought about the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea is a certain group of gangsters in the "Godfather" trilogy, you're in for a treat.
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