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Donnafugata Winery Guide

Cellar Tours Insight — Since 2003, Cellar Tours has planned private wine journeys through the world’s leading wine regions, pairing tailor-made itineraries with VIP winery visits, fine dining, and expert regional guidance.

Winery Overview

Donnafugata Winery is one of Italy’s finest wineries and is praised by wine critics and lovers worldwide. Located in Sicily, Donnafugata has various estates, including the historic cellar in Marsala, the beautiful Contessa Entellina country house and vineyards in the western interior of the island, and another winery and estate in the windswept island of Pantelleria off Sicily’s southwest coast. The Rallo family, who owns Donnafugata, have been in the wine business for over a century, and the current generation is highly dynamic and visionary. The Donnafugata brand was born in the early 1980s by Giacomo and Gabriella Rallo in the family’s historic cellars. Today, their children José and Antonio play prominent roles in the company. Even the grandchildren Ferdinando and Gabriella pitch in at the winery by posing as adorable Bacchus figures in the ads.

The term “Donna Fugata” translates as “Fleeing woman.” It refers to the Bourbon King Ferdinand IV’s Hapsburg wife, Queen Maria Carolina, who, in the early 1800s, had to flee their court at Naples (under Spanish rule at the time) when Napoleon’s troops arrived. They fled for Sicily to the country estates of a local prince, and the whole story is immortalized in the famous Sicilian novel “Il Gattopardo” by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. This story inspired the brand’s name (their vineyards are located in the same area where the king and queen stayed in Sicily) and the image of the woman with flowing hair on all wine labels.

Donnafugata is known for its extensive range of wines, made with native varietals such as Ansonica (also known as Inzolia), Catarratto, Zibbibo, Nero d’Avola, as well as international varietals like Viognier. While we love all of their wines, we must admit we have a few personal favorites, which include the exquisite “Ben Ryé” (their famed Passito from far-flung Pantelleria), the silky “Polena” made with Catarratto and Viognier, and the velvety “Mille e una Notte” (dominated by the native Nero d’Avola grape).

Private Wine Tours in Marsala

Private Wine Tours in Marsala

Travel from Palermo to Marsala for private cellar visits, historic fortified wines, refined Sicilian cuisine, and cultural touring along Sicily’s western coast.

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Further Reading

Author

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Genevieve Mc Carthy

Genevieve, originally from San Diego, California, has spent the last 25 years living in Europe, primarily in Spain, Ireland, and Italy. She has a background in the wine industry, having worked for a top wine importer in Ireland and a prestigious winery in Italy's Franciacorta region. In 2003, Genevieve founded Cellar Tours, a boutique wine tours company based in Madrid, Spain. She holds wine education credentials from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) in London and has a strong network within the European wine industry. Genevieve's specializes in organizing VIP tours to exclusive wineries that are not accessible to the general public. With a passion for food and wine, fluency in multiple languages, and expertise in luxury travel and tourism, Genevieve has built a successful career in creating unique wine experiences.

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