DOC · since 1973
Marsala
Wine · PDO · 22 municipalities
Marsala, a historic fortified wine produced across the province of Trapani in Sicily, is defined by rigorous production rules that set it apart from typical Italian wines. For the base Marsala Fine, the wine must reach at least 17.5% alcohol and undergo 12 months of total ageing, with a minimum of 8 months spent in wood. Crucially, Marsala’s ageing period does not begin post-harvest; instead, the official timeline starts only after the concia—the process of final blending, sweetening, and fortification—is completed. Furthermore, the dry Vergine and Soleras styles must age for five years and strictly ban the addition of cooked must or sifone.
Grillo e/o Catarratto e/o Ansonica (Inzolia) e/o Damaschino (per Marsala oro ed ambra) %1 yrs ageing17.5% vol min100 q/ha maxsource ↗
Production zone
Producers0 verified
The facts
- Colour
- gold (more or less intense golden), amber (more or less intense amber-yellow) or ruby (ruby red which acquires amber highlights with aging), depending on the type
- Taste
- dry (reducing sugars below 40 g/l), semi-dry (40-100 g/l) or sweet (over 100 g/l) depending on the type; taste and bouquet always characteristic
The producers 0
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Marsala produced?
- Marsala is produced in 22 municipalities in Sicily, Italy: Buseto Palizzolo, Calatafimi-Segesta, Campobello di Mazara, Castellammare del Golfo and more.
- What grape is Marsala made from?
- Marsala is made from Grillo e/o Catarratto e/o Ansonica (Inzolia) e/o Damaschino (per Marsala oro ed ambra), Perricone (Pignatello) e/o Calabrese (Nero d'Avola) e/o Nerello mascalese (per Marsala rubino), uve a bacca bianca (nel Marsala rubino, provenienti dai vitigni ammessi per oro/ambra).
- How long must Marsala age?
- Marsala must age at least 12 months according to its disciplinare.
- What is the minimum alcohol content of Marsala?
- The minimum alcohol content of Marsala is 17.5% vol.
- What does DOC mean?
- DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) certifies that a wine is produced in a defined zone following its official disciplinare.