Noto

The "Noto" Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) includes the white wine of the same name and its variants Spumante, Liquoroso, Passito, Rosso and Nero d'Avola.

Grapes

All the wines of the denomination, except the Rosso and the Nero d'Avola, are produced exclusively using grapes of the white Moscato vine. For Rosso and Nero d'Avola, on the other hand, the Nero d'Avola grape variety is used, with minimum quotas of 65% and 85% respectively. The remaining part of the grapes, in both cases, can be obtained from other black grapes, non-aromatic, suitable for cultivation in Sicilia.

Physicochemical and Organoleptic properties

Moscato di Noto Bianco (minimum total alcoholic strength by volume 11.5% vol.) has a golden yellow colour, more or less intense, ranging up to amber; the smell is characteristic and fragrant of Moscato, while on the palate it is aromatic and with elements equally typical of the grape variety of origin. The red variant (12.5% vol.), on the other hand, is ruby in color, with different degrees of intensity, the smell is frank and intense and is combined with a flavor and rightly tannic flavor, with a pleasant aftertaste. In the Spumante, Liquoroso, Passito and Nero d'Avola versions, further organoleptic characteristics emerge, which can be traced back to the specifications.

Grape production area

The production area, limited to the territory of only four municipalities in the province of Siracusa, is located in the extreme south-east of Sicilia, in an area of plain and low hills, characterized by a warm-arid climate.

Specificity and historical notes

The production area of Noto has a long winemaking tradition, dating back to the Greek period. This is also testified by some historical elements, such as the name of Pachino, which in Greek combines the words abundant and wine, or the engraving of a bunch of grapes on the coin of Abolla (probably the modern Avola).