About Messina DOC Wine Districts
Of the 23 production areas of Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC, Designation of origin) wines recognised in Sicily, three fall within the province of Messina and represent a large period in the long history of wine on the island.
The Faro DOC, the Mamertino DOC and the Malvasia delle Lipari DOC are three wine-growing areas in the Messina province that comply with three different production regulations and which, each with its own peculiarities, reflect the history and the territory on which they fall.
The Malvasia delle Lipari DOC reached the certification in 1973, and includes the entire territory of the Aeolian (or Lipari) archipelago (World Heritage Site).
The grape varieties include almost all Malvasia di Lipari, and a small percentage of Corinto Nero. The Malvasia delle Lipari DOC wines include the raisin, liqueur (with added alcohol) or dry types, based on the percentage of natural sugars present in the wine.
The Faro DOC was recognized on December 3, 1976, and delimits the wine production area exclusively to the vineyards falling within the territory of the Municipality of Messina. Faro DOC wines are exclusively red and can be obtained from Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio and Nocera grapes; the latter one identifies more than the others the area of Messina, as it grows exclusively there.
About 20 companies produce wines with DOC Faro certification and the vineyard area of the entire DOC does not reach 30 productive hectares.
The name of this DOC dates back to the Pharii people, of Greek origin who colonized most of the Messina hills in 750 BC. and they dedicated themselves to agricultural activity and, more specifically, to the cultivation of vines.
The Mamertino DOC is the youngest of the three, as it was certified in 2004.
It includes the territories of 31 municipalities in the province of Messina and, with the exception of the municipality of Messina, embraces a large part of Val Demone from the Tyrrhenian to the Ionian coast.
Mamertino wines can be white and red. The white wines are obtained from Inzolia, Catarratto, Grillo grapes and a small percentage, also from other white grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the province of Messina. The red wines are obtained from Nero d'Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio and Nocera grapes.
The use of other grapes authorised for cultivation in the province of Messina is permitted up to a maximum of 30%.
Both Mamertino Bianco and Mamertino Rosso can be bottled as a "Riserva" if they have been aged for at least 24 months, of which 6 months in wooden barrels.
The DOC Mamertino has about 15 producers whose companies are small, for a total of about 100 hectares of productive vineyards.
The entire Messina area is characterised by a considerable fragmentation into small companies that produce wines of the highest quality but still little known.
In particular, the presence of a native variety such as Nocera, so intimately linked to the Messina area and with organoleptic characteristics as unique as they are valuable, does not yet enjoy the visibility it deserves in those markets where territoriality and the rediscovery of native vines are the main selection criteria among the most demanding consumers and professionals in the world of wine.
