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Italians call DOC Passito di Pantelleria a vino di meditazione, a meditation wine, and the sweet aroma of Sicilian figs, apricots and peaches will delight your senses. Ben Ryé, produced by Donnafugata in Sicily, is one of the most interesting wines to serve at a dinner party. It pairs well with herbed cheeses, dried fruit, gianduia (Italian hazelnut chocolate) and many dolci. This wine is dolcissimo, and when I worked in Tuscany, the Tuscans chose to dip their biscotti in Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria as a refreshing alternative to their usual Vin Santo vino dolce. That is a great compliment by the way, for a Tuscan to use a Sicilian wine for a tradition that usually calls for a Tuscan wine.
The name Ben Ryé by the way, comes from the Arabic term, “Son of the Wind” because the wine sweeps constantly around the clusters of grapes on the tiny island of Pantelleria. This once lesser-known island was recently mentioned in Vogue for its appeal to celebrities. The island’s intense sun and volcanic soil give the zibibbo grape its outstanding flavor.
Kabir is a naturally sweet white DOC Moscato, which also comes from the small island off the coast of Sicily, Pantelleria. This wine pairs well with goat cheeses or smoked swordfish with fresh herbs. I love to serve it in elegant champagne flutes to accompany Italian pastries or fruit tarts. The name Kabir derives from the Arabic term, “the Great”, and the grape is also Zibibbo.
These are considered dessert wines, but can pair well for cheese tastings and other dishes as well. If you can not find them in your local wine shop, ask the owner of the shop if he could order it for you. He should know about these excellent wines, and if he does not, he will thank you for telling him about them.
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