Vittoria: red sand at the foot of the Iblei
West to east from the low plain west of Vittoria, across the town's sandy plateau, to Comiso and up the limestone scarp of the Hyblean plateau. Tap a layer to read it.
Swipe the plate sideways to see the whole section.
Schematic, and drawn from general knowledge of the area rather than a surveyed sheet: the plateau limestone, the fault at its foot and the younger sands and clays to the west are right in outline; boundaries and the fault throw are hand-placed. Vittoria lies 0.6 km off the line. The position of the vineyards Centonze buys from for its Cerasuolo is not given (the grower says only “around Vittoria”, on calcareous soil); their Nero d'Avola is from western Sicily and is not on this line. Check against the ISPRA/Regione Siciliana sheets for Vittoria and Ragusa.
4 layers, youngest at the top
Why Cerasuolo is light and bright
- Sand and soft calcarenite drain fast: low vigour and fine tannin.
- Sea air and the open plateau keep the nights from staying hot.
- Frappato brings perfume and lift, Nero d'Avola colour and depth.
- The plateau is open to the sea air from the south coast.
Did you knowCerasuolo di Vittoria became Sicily's first DOCG in 2005 and is still its only one, though Etna's is on the way. It must be a blend of Nero d'Avola and Frappato.
Pas Mal wines on this ground
Sources: Consorzio Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG regulations; ISPRA Carta Geologica d'Italia; Marc de Grazia on Centonze; AWS Terrain Tiles.