Catarratto late harvest Terre Siciliane IGT BIO - Assiolo

In western Sicily, between the hills of Alcamo and the Mediterranean coast, Bosco Falconeria cultivates Catarratto — the island's most widespread white grape variety, often underestimated but capable of extraordinary expressions when vinified with courage. Assiolo is their most extreme interpretation: a late harvest in the second half of October, when the grapes have concentrated sugars, aromas, and complexity far beyond the norm. The name refers to a small nocturnal bird of prey — discreet, precise, capable of seeing where others cannot.

Fermentation is spontaneous on the skins, in steel — a choice that gives structure and depth without resorting to wood or additives. Then, 18 months of aging in chestnut tonneau, a wood that imparts soft tannins and spicy notes without overpowering the fruit. The result is an amber, warm, complex wine — with notes of quince, walnut, and candied orange, and the typical almond note of Catarratto that lingers on the finish.

Dark amber in color. On the nose, quince, walnut, and candied orange. On the palate, the typical almond note of the grape is accompanied by a balanced sweetness of dried and candied fruit. Format 0.50 l.

Grape Variety: Catarratto comune | Alcohol: 15% | Format: 0.50 l | Serving Temperature: 12–14°C
Winemaking: Manual late harvest in the second half of October. Spontaneous fermentation on the skins in steel. Aging in chestnut tonneau for ~18 months.

Color: Dark amber

Aroma: On the nose, notes of quince, walnut, and candied orange

Taste: The typical almond note of the grape is accompanied by a slight sweetness of quince, walnut, and candied orange

Pairings: As an aperitif or after-dinner drink, it pairs well with aged cheeses, dried fruit, and dry desserts

Grape Variety: Catarratto comune

Alcohol: 15%

Serving Temperature: 12°÷14° C

Format: 0.50 l

Winemaking: Manual late harvest in the second half of October, spontaneous fermentation on the skins in steel followed by aging in chestnut tonneau for approximately 18 months

Recommended for

For those who love meditation wines, structured passiti, and characterful oxidative whites. Assiolo is not an aperitif wine — it's an after-dinner wine, to be paired with aged cheeses, dried fruit, and dry desserts. It is the right choice for those who want to discover white Sicily in its most unusual and courageous version.

When to drink it

After a meal or as an after-dinner drink, at 12-14°C. It has already undergone 18 months of aging in chestnut — it's ready, but can evolve further in the bottle for 3-5 years. Open it calmly, give it a few minutes in the glass before drinking.

Taste Characteristics

Warm, enveloping, with a balanced sweetness that doesn't become cloying. The almond note of Catarratto is the common thread — present from start to finish, accompanied by quince, walnut, and candied orange. The chestnut adds soft spice without overpowering the fruit. A wine that tells the story of Sicily without filters.

Why we chose this wine

Because Bosco Falconeria does something with Catarratto that few Sicilian producers dare: a late harvest, spontaneous fermentation on the skins, aging in chestnut. It is an unconventional wine — not a classic passito, not a conventional white. We chose it because it adds a unique voice to the catalog, capable of surprising even the most expert palates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What dishes does Assiolo pair with?
Aged hard cheeses, Sicilian pecorino, dried fruit, almond biscuits, cannoli. It is also excellent on its own as a meditation wine.

Is it a sweet wine?
It has a balanced sweetness — it's not an cloying passito, but it's not dry either. Spontaneous fermentation and aging in chestnut balance the sweetness with structure and complexity.

Why the 0.50 l format?
Because it is a tasting wine, not a table wine. The reduced format is designed for sharing between two or three people after a meal, without waste.