Ep 413: Sicily and the Sicilia DOC with Alberto Tasca of Tasca d'Almerita

<p>In this episode, Alberto Tasca d'Almerita, part of the 8th generation of the Tasca d’Almerita family, the CEO of <a href= "https://www.tascadalmerita.it/en/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Tasca d’Almerita</a> winery, and one of the directors of the <a href="http://www.winesofsicily.com" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Sicilia DOC</a> joins the show.</p> <p>This is an excellent complement to the <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6JLoDXIj6Y">Wines of Sicily class (part 1 now on the YouTube Channel!</a>).</p> <p><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/Low_Alberto_Tasca_PH_Matteo_Carassale_3-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="170" height="255" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><span style= "font-size: 8pt;"><a href="https://www.tascadalmerita.it/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Photo: Courtesy of Tasca d'Almerita</a></span></em></p> <p>The Tasca d’Almerita family got into wine in the 1830s with the purchase of <a href="https://www.tascadalmerita.it/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tenuta Regaleali</a> in the center of Sicily, with a range of altitudes that rise up to nearly 3000 ft/900 m, a variety of exposures, mixed soils, and elevations. The varied terrior and strong diurnals means that so many grapes grow well here – the winery grows 25 red and white varietals and the wines are fresh, fruity and honor the Sicilian tradition.</p> <p> </p> <p>In the early 2000s, Alberto took over the business side of <a href="https://www.tascadalmerita.it/en/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Tasca d’Almerita</a>. He shook things up and modernized the winery, improving the wines but staying true to tradition. Alberto grew the winery to four other Sicilian winegrowing regions: Tenuta Capofaro on the Aeolian island of Salina; Tenuta Tascante on Mt. Etna; Tenuta Whitaker on the Phoenician island of Mozia; and Tenuta Sallier de La Tour in the DOC Monreale. To say that Alberto understands the ins and outs of Sicily and what it has to give i