Florio
Florio Marsala Superiore Riserva Semisecco 2008
DOC Marsala Superiore Riserva Semisecco
Majority Grillo and Cataratto
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Traditional farming philosophy
Tasting Notes
Amber with topaz tinges. Notes of pastry cream, raisins, and vanilla. On the palate are evolving notes of candied fruit, dates, and dried fruit, such as chestnuts and hazelnuts, with a slight hint of liquorice and bitter cocoa.
Cultivation
Starts in mid-September, by hand, with very ripe grapes that are high in residual sugars and polyphenols.
Vinification
Pressing of grapes with a higher sugar content, while maintaining the skin contact with must. Fermentation occurs at a controlled temperature in concrete to maintain the tannins and prepare the wine for its encounter with alcohol.
Aging
Aged in singular, old wooden kegs and casks for 15 years, moving position in the cellar along the way, followed by three months in bottle. 1.5 micron filtration.
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Founded in 1833, Florio is the world’s oldest Marsala producer and one of the original pioneers that brought this singular Sicilian wine to international prominence. Marsala stands apart as Italy’s one and only traditional fortified wine—distinct from Port, Sherry, or Madeira—crafted for pure enjoyment, whether savored neat, in cocktails, or as a defining ingredient in sweet or savory cuisine. As one of the few wineries based in Marsala itself, Florio remains the leading guardian of authentic, premium Marsala, producing roughly 90% of all DOC Marsala globally using only native grapes, led by Grillo, and patient aging in quiet oak cellars by the sea, where time, oxygen, and tradition shape wines of unmistakable depth and character.