Donnafugata - Ben Rye Passito di Pantelleria

Donnafugata - Ben Rye Passito di Pantelleria

Ben Rye is the Passito di Pantelleria from Donnafugata, a Sicilian producer. It comes from Pantelleria, the volcanic island that lies closer to Tunisia than to Sicily. It is a sweet wine in the passito style, where grapes are dried to concentrate their sugars.

Expect dried apricot, candied orange peel and honey on the nose, lifted by the floral, grapey perfume of Muscat. The palate is rich and viscous, with fig and raisin, kept from heaviness by a thread of fresh acidity. The finish is sweet and lingering.

Passito di Pantelleria DOC is built on Zibibbo, the local name for Muscat of Alexandria. The island's heat, constant wind and volcanic ground push the fruit towards concentration and aromatic intensity, and drying the grapes adds the dried-fruit depth that defines the style. Donnafugata makes Ben Rye within that tradition.

Serve well chilled, in small glasses. It works with blue cheese, almond biscuits, cassata or an apricot tart, and it is just as good alone at the end of a long dinner. Pour it after the main course and let it carry the evening.