The exquisite Mille e una Notte (Thousand and One Nights) is the iconic wine of Donna Fugata.
Mille e una Notte was born from the dream of Donnafugata founders Giacomo and Gabriella, who wanted to create a great Sicilian red wine. Therefore, it is a true invitation to discover the expression of the great red wines of Sicily. It is produced in the Sicilia DOC designation from the best grapes of the Petit Verdot, Syrah, Nero d’Avola, and other native red grape varieties from the vineyards of Contessa Entellina.
In the glass, it shows an intense ruby red color. On the nose, it presents a complex bouquet characterized by notes of red cherry and black blackberry, fresh balsamic hints (eucalyptus), spicy touches of black pepper, and delicate nuances of sweet roasted aroma reminiscent of vanilla.
On the palate, it is smooth and enveloping, with great structure and ripe, refined tannins. Then on the palate, Mille e una Notte is dense and full-bodied, with broad and deep aromas of ripe berries, violet, cocoa, and tobacco. The finish is particularly long and excellently balanced. It is a magnificent, charismatic, full-bodied, and spicy Sicilian wine.
Today, it is an icon of Italian winemaking art, the result of a tailored work that is at the heart of Donnafugata’s production philosophy. Mille e una Notte is made from the best grapes of the year, sourced from the estate’s historic vineyards. The harvest is done by hand, with careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard. The harvested grapes are stored in crates to ensure the integrity of the berries. Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes are cleaned on a shaking table, and the berries are sorted with a destemmer that removes green and overripe berries. The grapes of the different varieties are vinified separately: fermentation takes place in conical stainless steel tanks with maceration on the skins for about 14 days at a temperature of 28°C – 30°C. During fermentation, punching down is done using a manually controlled piston. The piston gently but very effectively submerges the cap of skins into the fermenting must, ensuring balanced extraction of polyphenols. Afterward, aging takes place for about 13-14 months in new French oak barriques and at least 24 months in the bottle to achieve its legendary complexity and elegance, which gives it incredible aging potential.
The vineyards are located at an altitude between 200 and 400 meters above sea level in a hilly area. They are planted on a mosaic of clay and limestone soils. The pronounced color, along with a hint of violet and balsamic nuances (eucalyptus) combined with fruity, ripe notes, captivates the eyes and nose even before the first sip.
A special feature of the wine lies in its label, which depicts the palace where Queen Maria Carolina found refuge. It was the preferred residence of the writer Tomasi di Lampedusa in Santa Margherita Belice. Gabriella Anca Rallo captures the image and places it under a starry sky, reminiscent of the Thousand and One Nights stories of oriental literature.
