<p>Learn Sicilian wine secrets and taste one of the rarest light bodied red wines called Frappato – a must try for Pinot lovers.</p>
<p>The wine in this video is from <a href="https://winefolly.com/club/" title="Learn more about Wine Folly Club">Wine Folly Club!</a></p>


Learn Sicilian wine secrets and taste one of the rarest light bodied red wines called Frappato – a must try for Pinot lovers.

The wine in this video is from [Wine Folly Club!](https://winefolly.com/club/ "Learn more about Wine Folly Club")

Sicily's Rarest Red is a Ringer for Pinot Noir

<p>Call it CdP for short! If there is French wine everyone deserves to taste, it’s probably Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It’s the perfect gateway to French wine. </p>
<h2 id="whats-in-this-video">What&#39;s In This Video?</h2>
<p>This is the kind of wine that makes an impression: rich, heady, and perfumed with earthy undertones and bold fruit flavors that only get more complex as they age. It’s the crown jewel of the <a href="https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/cotes-du-rhone-wine-with-maps/" title="Southern Rhône">Southern Rhône</a>. Yet, surprisingly, its prices haven’t skyrocketed like some other iconic wines, making it relatively accessible for those eager to dive into the world of classic French reds.</p>
<h3 id="where-châteauneuf-du-pape-comes-from">Where Châteauneuf-du-Pape Comes From</h3>
<p>Châteauneuf-du-Pape is in the sun-soaked Southern Rhône Valley, near the Mediterranean, receiving nearly as much sunshine as Los Angeles. The landscape is breathtakingly historic, with roots tracing back to 1309 when the Pope moved his seat to Avignon. “Châteauneuf-du-Pape” translates to “The Pope’s New Castle,” and the <a href="https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-chateauneuf-du-pape-wine-and-more/">region’s ancient history</a> is woven into every bottle. As you explore the labels, you may even spot symbols like the Comtat Venaissin flag, reflecting the area’s storied past.</p>
<h3 id="the-grapes">The Grapes</h3>
<p>One of the fascinating aspects of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is its diversity of grape varieties. Unlike the Northern Rhône, where <a href="https://winefolly.com/grapes/syrah/">Syrah</a> dominates, Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines can contain up to 13 official varieties (though wine geeks may note that it’s technically 20 if you count the color variants). The star grape here is <a href="https://winefolly.com/grapes/grenache/">Grenache</a>, making up over 70% of the plantings. Many winemakers blend Grenache with Syrah and <a href="https://winefolly.com/grapes/monastrell-mourvedre/">Mourvèdre</a>, but some, like the highly sought-after Château Rayas, are known for their 100% Grenache expressions. This flexibility in blending creates wines that range from powerful and structured to lighter and more nuanced.</p>
<p>Adding to its prestige, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is France’s first appellation, established in 1923 by Baron Le Roy, a visionary winemaker who helped protect the region’s identity from imitation. His work laid the foundation for the French appellation system, ensuring that only wines from this unique terroir could bear the Châteauneuf-du-Pape name.</p>
<h3 id="how-châteauneuf-du-pape-tastes">How Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tastes</h3>
<p>Tasting a Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a sensory experience. Expect rich raspberry and plummy fruit flavors. As it evolves, you’ll taste notes of leather, game, and herbs along with oak, and a structure that speaks of the region’s clay and limestone soils, which add tannic depth and acidity. Keep an eye out for old-vine bottles, which produce concentrated flavors and often note “Vieilles Vignes” on the label. </p>
<p>For more, read our <a href="https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-chateauneuf-du-pape-wine-and-more/">Châteauneuf-du-Pape deep dive</a>, which includes more on the region&#39;s terroir, bottles to try, and versions made with white grapes. </p>
<h2 id="credits--shoutouts">Credits &amp; Shoutouts:</h2>
<p>No wineries paid for placement in this video. If they did, then we’d be sure to let you know. Praise to our sponsors and members who support fun and accessible wine education.</p>


Guide To Châteauneuf-du-Pape 

<p>These five red wines not only taste amazing, but they teach us something useful about wine and our sense of taste. After watching this, you’ll learn the fundamentals of what red wines you like. Bonus: all of these beginner wines are between $10 and $45 - with insightful clues throughout the video to help figure out what traits to look for in future bottles.</p>
<h2 id="whats-in-this-video">What&#39;s In This Video?</h2>
<p>Let’s start with <a href="https://winefolly.com/grapes/syrah/">Syrah</a>, or Shiraz as it&#39;s often labeled in <a href="https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/australia-wine-regions-map/">Australia</a>, with loads of <a href="https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/know-a-wine-just-by-looking-at-the-color/">anthocyanins</a> (color-producing pigments), adding depth with its dark color and tannins. Plus, this bottle highlights the interesting differences between <a href="https://winefolly.com/tips/warm-climate-vs-cool-climate-wine/">cool and hot climates</a>. For this video, we chose a hot-climate Australian Shiraz that’s richly fruity, which is often more approachable for newer wine enthusiasts.</p>
<p>Then there’s <a href="https://winefolly.com/grapes/zinfandel/">Zinfandel</a>, one of the few Croatian grapes to go mainstream, particularly in the U.S. or Italy, where it goes by the name Primitivo. It&#39;s known worldwide for its high alcohol content and sweet, brambly fruit notes. It&#39;s great for discovering the effects of warmer climates on grape varieties.</p>
<p>The next wine is a juicy, bold wine packed with red fruit flavors: Spanish Garnacha. Although <a href="https://winefolly.com/grapes/grenache/">Garnacha</a> is often blended in famous wines like <a href="https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-chateauneuf-du-pape-wine-and-more/">Châteauneuf-du-Pape</a>, it’s a superstar on its own, showcasing a powerful terroir that introduces you to complex flavor layers.</p>
<p>Next, Chilean <a href="https://winefolly.com/grapes/carmenere/">Carménère</a> brings something different. Often loved or disliked because of its <a href="https://winefolly.com/tips/pyrazines-why-some-wines-taste-like-bell-pepper/">greenish aromas</a> — think bell pepper and cocoa powder — Carménère offers an insight into the <a href="https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/what-grape-varieties-make-up-a-bordeaux-blend/">Bordeaux grape family</a>.</p>
<p>Finally, we present <a href="https://winefolly.com/grapes/pinot-noir/">Pinot Noir</a>, a light, aromatic wine that’s all about the nose, often described as “the sniffer’s wine.” Due to its delicate nature, the quality of Pinot Noir can vary, which is why it’s worth investing in a higher-quality bottle for the full experience.</p>
<p>After watching, you’ll know not only what red wines you like, but also what qualities to seek in future bottles!</p>


The 5 Best Red Wines For Beginners

<p>Is this even possible? 24,000 feet of climbing and 25+ Alto Adige wineries in 4 days...  </p>
<h2 id="whats-in-this-video">What&#39;s In This Video?</h2>
<p>Blending wine and cycling, Madeline and Aldo take on iconic alpine climbs like Passo Mendola while exploring vineyards and wineries along the way. Highlights include a visit to the legendary Pegoretti Bicycles, where custom bikes await us, and learning about native grape varieties like Schiava and Lagrein. It’s a wild ride of incredible wines, stunning landscapes, and unforgettable moments.</p>
<p>Rule #1: don’t drink and ride!</p>
<p>As we cycle through Alto Adige’s breathtaking vineyards, we experience firsthand the region’s remarkable climate — warm Mediterranean air from the south meets the cold Alpine breeze, creating a perfect environment for growing both white and red wine grapes. Along the way, we visit biodynamic vineyards, learning how this farming method has strengthened the resilience of their vines. </p>
<p>We dive deep into the culture and history of the region, tasting native varieties like Schiava and Lagrein, meeting local producers, and even making traditional Austrian-influenced dishes like Knoedel.</p>
<p>As we continue to push ourselves through iconic climbs like Passo Mendola and Passo Stelvio, we reflect on how cycling lets us connect more intimately with the environment. Riding through the vineyards on bikes instead of driving allows us to experience the smells and sights of the region entirely. The adventure is not just a test of physical endurance but also a journey through Alto Adige’s distinct wines and culture, offering a new perspective on both cycling and winemaking.</p>
<h2 id="credits--shoutouts">Credits &amp; Shoutouts:</h2>
<ul>
<li>This amazing experience would not be possible without the special contributions of the <a href="https://www.altoadigewines.com/">Alto Adige Wine Consorzio</a>, Cristina Würdig and Pietro Pietricola from <a href="https://dariopegoretti.com/">Pegoretti Bicycles</a>, and Georgio from <a href="https://giordanacycling.com/">Giordana Cycling</a>.</li>
<li>Filmed by <a href="https://mintmediahouse.com/">Mint Mediahouse</a>.</li>
<li>Cycling tour guide, Hannes, from <a href="https://www.bikeacademy-lana.it/english/">Bikeacademy Lana</a>.</li>
<li>Madeline and Aldo were graciously hosted by:<ul>
<li>Count Michael Goëss-Enzenberg at <a href="https://altoadige.guides.winefolly.com/wineries/manincor/">Manincor Estate Winery</a></li>
<li>Karoline Walch of <a href="https://altoadige.guides.winefolly.com/wineries/elena-walch/">Elena Walch</a></li>
<li><a href="https://altoadige.guides.winefolly.com/wineries/kellerei-st-pauls/">Kellerei St. Pauls</a></li>
<li><a href="https://altoadige.guides.winefolly.com/wineries/kellerei-bozen/">Kellerei Bozen</a></li>
<li><a href="https://altoadige.guides.winefolly.com/wineries/kuenhof/">Kuenhof</a></li>
<li><a href="https://altoadige.guides.winefolly.com/wineries/cantina-valle-isarco/">Cantina Valle Isarco</a></li>
<li><a href="https://altoadige.guides.winefolly.com/wineries/gump-hof-markus-prackwieser/">Gump Hof - Markus Prackwieser</a></li>
<li><a href="https://altoadige.guides.winefolly.com/wineries/abbazia-di-novacella/">Abbazia di Novacella</a></li>
<li>Niklas and Martin Foradori Hofstätter of <a href="https://altoadige.guides.winefolly.com/wineries/j-hofstatter/">J. Hofstätter</a></li>
<li>Elisabeth Elli Gottardi of <a href="https://altoadige.guides.winefolly.com/wineries/weingut-gottardi/">Gottardi Mazzon</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="for-more-on-alto-adige">For More on Alto Adige</h2>
<p><a href="https://altoadige.guides.winefolly.com/">Alto Adige Region Guide</a></p>
<p><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/9dpm55oop5oi/14eKlGiKLuqn5aHLAvgVce/b4fe50d8a5ff8b17291c76fdbaf9d1df/alto-adige-logo-farbig.png" alt="Alto Adige logo"></p>


Alto Adige Wine Tour by Bike: What Was I Thinking?

Vittoria

Frappato

A rare and exclusive grape variety cultivated on only a few hectares, it is best expressed in the red sands of Vittoria, not far from the sea. An aromatic and pleasant red wine as few others, a perfect synthesis between tradition and innovation.

'It is a new way of thinking about the journey through Sicily; after Menfi, Vittoria, then Noto, then Etna, then Milazzo. Not a random route, but one strongly linked to the variety of countryside, to the winds, to the character of the people and thus of their wine…’ Diego Planeta

Planeta’s story is one of courage and hard work, of innovation and tradition. 
The company and the family share their values, both with an eye to the future and with their feet firmly on the ground.
Courage and innovation since the 1990’s, due to several of that generation of the family then in their twenties led by Alessio Planeta and under the protective care of the founder Diego Planeta, who initiated a completely new project, placing wine in the centre of the family’s farming activities.

After establishing the first winery at Ulmo in 1994 the ‘Viaggio in Sicilia’ took off, in other words, the search for the best known areas of the island in order to create independent wineries and produce what would be considered the best wines in each area, working with indigenous vines while continuing to experiment with international varieties.  
These last were developed particularly at Menfi, the working centre of the company, where the number of vines and wineries always continued to increase.
The next stage of the journey took place at Vittoria in 1997, where the only Sicilian DOCG, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, then existed, initially with vineyards and followed up with the purchase of the Dorilli estate. Next Noto in 1998 with the acquisition of Buonivini and with the specific intention of achieving the excellence of Nero d’Avola within its region of origin. Then Etna with the acquisition of the first 12 hectares of land at Sciaranuova on the northern slopes of the volcano in 2008, and the gradual purchase of more land bringing the total area to 40 hectares, devoted to Nerello Mascalese and Carricante, with small trial areas of Pinot Noir and Riesling.

This wonderful journey has for the moment finished at Capo Milazzo, and the tiny winery of Baronia, where since 2011 the focus has been on the DOC Mamertino and various antique indigenous varieties, particularly Nocera.

All this began from that first venture at Ulmo, the estate acquired by the family through marriage in 1694, 17 generations ago, and since then always cultivated with vines and olives; an authentic family tradition.

Now exists their obligation; the values which have always directed the company are tradition, research, the work ethic and respect for the land; to contribute to the progress of the community where they operate; to safeguard the beauty and environmental integrity of those places.  This last element is particularly loaded with meaning due to the particular beauty of the areas where the vineyards and wineries are sited.  Ulmo, Dispensa, Dorilli, Buonivini, Sciaranuova and La Baronia are unforgettable places, emphasising the saying that good wines are made in beautiful places.
Today there are overall 395 hectares and 7 wineries in five different areas.  Each winery has its leading wine-maker, each one is wholly part of its territory on which it is  modelled.

Four of the five wineries produce exclusively grapes and wines certified as organic;
Planeta has subscribed to SOStain’s protocol of sustainability since its inception, a further guarantee of their attention to the environment and to the land.  It is sufficient to visit any one of the wineries to understand to what extent the environment, the countryside and the culture are fundamental values of the company.
 


Planeta is not solely concerned with wine.  In the flora and fauna oasis of Capparrina (Menfi), owned by the family since the 19th century, 148 hectares of olive grove have been planted since 1998.  The olives – Nocellara del Belice, Biancolilla and Cerasuola – are processed as soon as harvested at the olive press in the centre of the estate; the result is an IGP extra-virgin olive oil which has been awarded various national and international awards.

Finally Planeta has devoted increasing investment and resources, under the guidance of Francesca Planeta, to the development of property activities and particularly to high-profile hospitality.  This began with La Foresteria, the Menfi wine resort established in 2009 and inscribed in the Ecoluxury list, to be followed with Palazzo Planeta in Palermo and Le Case Sparse at Noto.
In addition three of the estates – Ulmo, Buonivini and Sciaranuova – have in their turn become centres of hospitality linked to wine tourism (tastings, events, experiences, wine sales) and fully represent the synthesis of Planeta’s activities and their vision.


Sicily's Rarest Red is a Ringer for Pinot Noir

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Guide To Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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Alto Adige Wine Tour by Bike: What Was I Thinking?

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