Chardonnay 'Chiarandà' Donnafugata 2022

The Chardonnay “Chiarandà” by Donnafugata is a Sicilian wine that originates in the context of a family-run winery with over a century of experience in the world of winemaking. The activity began in 1851 with the Rallo family, who decided to follow their passion for wine, following in the footsteps of English entrepreneurs. From generation to generation, the culture and experience have been passed down, reaching 1983 when Giacomo Rallo made the winery the beating heart of the wine industry: he represents the fourth generation at work and, with the help of his wife Gabriella, has been able to look to the future, expanding production and increasing the quality of the products. Today, it is the children José and Antonio who carry on the family business, maintaining the tradition and environmental sustainability.

The vineyards of Chardonnay “Chiarandà” by Donnafugata are located in the southwestern part, an excellent position for the sun's rays to consistently hit the rows, ensuring perfect ripeningthe end of the bunches. The climate here is Mediterranean with rainfall mainly in autumn and winter, while in summer the temperatures are high, dry with a significant presence of winds; also important is the strong temperature variation between day and night. The altitude is between 200 and 600 meters above sea level and the soil is clayey with sub-alkaline concentration for wines with a character structure. The harvest is conducted manually in the early hours of the morning when the bunches have a lower temperature, thus reducing energy consumption. The alcoholic fermentation takes place in steel. It ages for 8 months on noble lees, part in oak and part in cement tanks; it rests in the bottle for 12 months.

To the eye, the Chardonnay “Chiarandà” by Donnafugata is straw yellow with brilliant reflections; the bouquet of aromas is intense and complex and recalls citrus and lemon zest, ginger, floral notes of broom and dried fruits like toasted hazelnuts. On the palate, it is structured, broad, and pleasant with a savory and mineral finish that