Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Cortese — Vanedda Bianco 2021
Sicilia IGP, Sicily, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A beautifully crafted blend of Catarratto and Grillo, two of Sicily’s flagship white grapes. Fermented with brief skin contact and matured on its lees in large oak casks, this wine combines Mediterranean freshness with remarkable texture, delivering far more complexity than its humble price suggests.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive aromas of lemon peel, ripe citrus, tropical fruit, white flowers, sweet spice, and crushed stone. The palate is vibrant and mineral-driven, with subtle saline notes and an underlying volcanic character that adds depth without overwhelming the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Energetic, tension-filled, and beautifully textured. Bright acidity lifts the wine from start to finish, while the brief skin contact and lees aging contribute a creamy yet focused mouthfeel. Long, refreshing, and remarkably persistent.

Food Pairings
Outstanding with grilled seafood, octopus, shrimp, tuna crudo, Mediterranean vegetables, citrus-herb chicken, Sicilian seafood pasta, or aged Pecorino.

Verdict
A wine that dramatically over-delivers. This is a superb example of why Sicilian whites deserve far more attention. Full of energy, precision, and character, it offers exceptional value while showcasing the unique identity that volcanic soils and the Mediterranean climate can bring to indigenous Sicilian varieties.

Did You Know?
Unlike many modern whites, Vanedda undergoes a short period of skin contact before fermentation is completed in large oak casks. The wine then rests on its lees for several months, building texture and complexity while preserving freshness, a traditional approach reinterpreted through modern organic winemaking.

🍷 Personal Pick
This bottle reminded me why I continue to champion Sicilian white wines. They remain among the most exciting and underrated whites available in the U.S. market. The combination of volcanic influence, Mediterranean freshness, and indigenous varieties creates wines with incredible tension, energy, and personality. Vanedda is one of those bottles that quietly exceeds every expectation and leaves you wondering why more people aren’t talking about Sicilian whites. — 6 days ago

Vin d’Ottawa

8.9

Refreshing with a bit of bite at the end. A fun blend from Sicily. — 9 months ago

with Gillian

Ann Elizabeth Mekala

9.0

Salty apricot. Kind of chuggable.
— 10 months ago

Jennifer Memmolo

9.3

chalk and citrus — 3 years ago

Andrew Holod

National Sales Grapes of Spain

9.0

About 50/50 Perracone and Nero d'Avola.
Dark violet. Red currant and sour pie cherries, some dried fruit leather aspect to the fruit.
A bit more structured, but still very fine grained an approachable. From higher elevation vineyards that contributes to finesse. — 4 years ago

Anicron

9.4

Aldi: Solide, unaufgeregt, geht immer — 5 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

Awesome Sicilian white. Love Arianna’s wines. — 2 months ago

Brian Hearty

9.2

2022. Love this wine with oysters and umami rich seafood dishes. Second time having this vintage and loved it even more tonight! — 5 months ago

Peter Coulthard

9.3

NW. Really enjoyed this Sicilian wine - very enjoyable with prawn thermidor. — 7 months ago

Kris Kow

9.5

Smooth and refreshing, nice crisp aftertaste. A pleasant bouquet. Not too sweet. Dry and plesant. — 9 months ago

with Scott

Jeff Ostermueller

9.4

Angela chose this over Moscofilero. Has the depth of an orange wine but not as acidic. More grounded and earthy. — a year ago

with Angela

Neil Shah

8.9

This is a great food wine for the price — 3 years ago

Jenna Reed

10

I loved this one… this was the least funky orange wine I’ve ever tried. I do love the funky ones, but this felt like such a refreshing treat. Will likely pick up another bottle or two. — 4 years ago

Jamie P

9.1

Really good classic orange wine from Italy. Very tangy. Could be funkier but also I had a cold when I drank it. A tad pricey. — 5 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2023 vintage. Nerello Mascalese white. Linear and focused. $15 a btl. Great springtime juice. 3.11.26. — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Azienda Agricola Cortese “Orange-utan” Bianco Terre Siciliane IGT 2023 – Sicily, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
An expressive Sicilian orange wine made from 80% Inzolia · 20% Zibibbo, produced from organic grapes with extended skin maceration that gives the wine its amber hue, grip, and layered complexity. Inzolia brings structure, savory tension, and citrus backbone, while Zibibbo contributes aromatic lift, exotic spice, and floral intrigue. Vegan-friendly and sustainably farmed, this is a textured, gastronomic orange wine built more for the table than casual sipping.

Aromas & Flavors
Dried apricot, orange peel, and mandarin oil. Subtle tropical notes from the Zibibbo with hints of jasmine and white flowers. Warm baking spice, ginger, and light tea leaf. Gentle nuttiness and herbal tones. A savory citrus peel finish that keeps the palate engaged and curious.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with noticeable phenolic grip from skin contact. Bright acidity keeps the wine lively and prevents heaviness. Light tannic texture adds structure and food compatibility. Dry, persistent finish with a pleasantly savory edge. Energetic, layered, and tactile.

Food Pairings
Excellent with earthy and umami-driven dishes: Grilled or roasted portobello mushrooms. Semi-aged cheeses and washed-rind styles. Roasted vegetables with herbs and olive oil. Mediterranean mezze and antipasti. Spiced poultry or vegetarian dishes. A natural bridge between white wine freshness and light red structure.

🍷 Personal Pick
Orange wines aren’t about easy comfort, they’re about curiosity, texture, and pairing power. This one delivers beautifully: expressive without being funky, structured without heaviness. It truly shines alongside food and invites slow exploration rather than casual sipping.

Did You Know?
Inzolia is one of Sicily’s most important indigenous white grapes, prized for structure and citrus-driven freshness, while Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria) brings highly aromatic floral and exotic fruit character. Skin-contact fermentation extracts tannins, color, and savory complexity, giving orange wines their distinctive texture and gastronomic versatility. — 6 months ago

Max Gottesfeld, FWS, CSW

9.1

Golden delicious apples, citrus, stones, soft tannins and medium plus acidity. Better than it’s been. — 9 months ago

Tooty Frooty

9.1

Fine men ite tunn, non? #tnwc — 3 years ago

Brandon Chew

9.0

Sea salt, marine brine, volcanic ash mm mm — 3 years ago

Joseph Lewinski

9.0

Super cool easy drinking. Italian mountain summer cheese wine. Crisp apple field grass and ripe hard cheese in the nose. Taste has a bit more apple cider with pecorino and melon. Domestique wine clue June 2022 — 4 years ago

with Ginny