Grape Variety: Ansonica

Colour:

White

Not much is known about the origin of the Ansonica. It is thought that it orginates from Sicily (presumably introduced by the Greeks), but some claim that its roots can be traced back to Normandy. What’s sure is that this grape has been grown from times immemorial in Sicily, in Sardinia, on the Isle of Elba and the Argentario (Tuscany), but also that there is no historical evidence of how it reached places that are so distant from one another. In each one of these places, Ansonica took its own course: in Sicily it became the island’s third most widely grown grape variety, in Sardinia it has all but disappeared, on the Isle of Elba it is used as table grape, and in Argentario it has been used to produce a wine with distinctive character.

In Sicily Insolia/Ansonica is grown in the west of the island (in Trapani), expressing itself well in the warm climate and is vinified normally without oak to give full-bodied wines with certain ageing potential. It is often blended with Chardonnay or other native grapes. Ansonica gives tropical aromas like pineapple, and also notes of almonds, citrus fruits and fresh herbs. On the other side of the island, Vittoria, COS make a wine which is a 50/50 blend of Insolia and Grecanico. Giusto Occhipinti, one of the owners of COS, remarks that this wine is best with a few years under its belt when the impact of the Inzolia comes to the fore. Initially it seems fairly restrained, with notes of almond and straw whilst on the palate it is brisk and decisive with a vital attack, with a concentrated fruit quality that has a real tell-tale Italian bitter almond, or even Campari-like edge, to cool pear and lemon fruit. Where are the clams? Send in the clams.