Etna vineyard, Courtesy of Planeta

Planeta of Sicily is symbolic of the wine renaissance that has swept this Mediterranean island.  Today, it is an esteemed wine empire, widely considered one of the best on the island.  Seventeen generations of the Planeta family have cultivated their destiny here, dedicated to innovating and improving Sicilian wine.  Rooted to the land for over five hundred years, the Planeta family has evolved from a large cooperative to a complex family business over the past three decades.  In the 1980’s, three passionate young family members, Alessio, Francesca and Santi, decided to take the winery to a new level, under the wing of founder Diego Planeta. Starting with the historic family estate of Sambuca di Sicilia in Menfi, they have sought out the best vineyards across the island to make exceptional wine.  Encompassing seven wineries and six estates in five regions, today’s mission is to produce fascinating wines from Sicily’s ancient native varietals, alongside their renowned international varietal wines.

Planeta's Capo Milazzo vineyard, Courtesy of Planeta

Courtesy of Planeta

​Sicily is the largest wine producing region in Italy, ahead of even Tuscany and Piedmont.  Although the climate may be warm throughout the year, the mountain elevations, diverse soils and island winds mark the wines with a fresh and elegant character, that reflects the Mediterranean in its essence.  Fragrant and distinctive, intriguing in its fruit, savory notes, and texture, the very best Sicilian wines are made from the indigenous wine grape varietals found all over the island.  Grillo, Carricante, Grecanico, Catarratto, Inzolia, Frappato, and Nero d’Avola are just a few of the many ancient grapes cultivated on Sicily.

Dorilli in Vittorio, Courtesy of Planeta

Courtesy of Planeta

Planeta first received accolades for its Chardonnay over twenty years ago, part of its push to produce high quality wine, overturning Sicily’s reputation for poor quality bulk wine.  Today, Planeta is focused on resurrecting some forgotten grapes and expanding plantings of flagship indigenous varietals, researching which sites are a perfect match.  They studied the storied “phantom wines” from history, and delved deep into each wine territory across the island, creating boutique wineries with a specific identity.

Etna vineyard, Courtesy of Planeta

Etna winery, Courtesy of Planeta

Buonivini vineyard, Courtesy of Planeta

Planeta’s five different “territories”, Menfi, Vittoria, Noto, Etna and Capo Milazzo, provide a rich tapestry of terroir that craft very distinctive wines.  When you think of Sicily, you think of the volcanic soils surrounding Mount Etna, home to Nerello Mascalese and Carricante.  But there is so much more to Sicilian terroir.  For example, the Buonivini estate in Noto sits on white limestone hills, caressed by breezes arising from the collision of two seas, and is home to Nero d’Avola and Moscato.

Patricia Toth, Chief Winemaker for Planeta

Patricia Toth, chief winemaker for Planeta, shared the glory of seven wines made with Sicilian indigenous varietals, paired with the exquisite cuisine of Drago Centro in Downtown Los Angeles at a trade luncheon.  These wines are the future, bringing a new dimension to Sicilian wine, and a diverse identity for Planeta.  Toth also oversees their sustainable vineyard development program, which includes other agriculture, such as olive trees, oranges, and chickpeas.  Certified SOSTAIN, the first regional Italian environmental viticultural certification project, Planeta uses a combination of traditional farming methods and organic growing practices, approached through the lens of science and technology, to achieve the best possible outcomes.  Currently, Planeta has set the standard for all winemaking in Sicily, improving the wines and the vineyards along the way.

We were greeted with a glass of the Planeta Allemanda Bianco Noto DOC 2021 (SRP $26), a 100% Moscato Bianco that wowed the senses.  It had the aromas of a sweet Moscato, with jasmine and citrus, but on the palate, it was dry and refreshing, a perfect aperitif and so delicious with the Seafood Arancini with Saffron Aioli and the Ahi Tuna Tartare.

The Planeta Eruzione 1614 Carricante Sicilia DOC 2018 (SRP $45) is so very intriguing, a blend of 90% Carricante and 10% Riesling.   Grown on the north slopes of Etna, Eruzione is named for the 1614 eruption, which lasted for ten years, and stopped just at the edge of the present day Sciaranuova vineyard estate.  An intensely aromatic wine, with a saline nose of citrus, Mediterranean brush and smoke, its vibrant, textured palate of lemon peel and green apple with a long mineral finish is fascinating, and one of my favorites of the lunch.  It was served with Seared Octopus over Potato Purée, a perfect pairing.

​The second course was made up of two pasta dishes, Paccheri with Swordfish and Fennel, and Garganelli with Pork Sausage and Fennel Pollen, served with the two following wines.

​The Planeta Frappato Vittoria DOC 2020 (SRP $28) is fragrant and light in body, with strawberry, red cherry, pomegranate, white pepper and violet aromas.  The savory palate, with red fruit accented with a smokey note, is silky and mouthwatering, a very good food wine, and often served slightly chilled to bring out its refreshing summer vibes.

​The Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG 2020 (SRP $29), a blend of 60% Nero d’Avola and 40% Frappato, is aromatic and textured, combining the fragrant, floral characteristics of Frappato with the full body and tannins of Nero d’Avola.  It intrigues with its wild red fruits, such as mulberry, and black pepper character, and the palate is savory and round.  Cerasuolo di Vittoria is the only DOCG wine in Sicily, and the name Cerasuolo means “cherry red”, a nod to the beautiful color of this wine.

The third course, the Short Rib with Mushroom Barley was served alongside three red wines.

​The Planeta Eruzione 1614 Nerello Mascalese Sicilia DOC 2018 (SRP$45) packs the wow factor!  It’s 100% Nerello Mascalese from the volcanic soils of Mt. Etna, intoxicating in its aromas of wild berries, flowers and herbs, balanced in its acidity, sweet fruit and structure, with a palate that unfurls with mineral and light spice, upon a long finish.

​The Planeta Nocera DOC 2017 (SRP $34) is a wild and energetic wine, made from a grape I’ve never tasted before, Nocera.  Aromas of summer fruit and plums, with floral and white pepper notes, and a strong scent of Mediterranean garrigue unfold in a lighter-bodied red, with softer tannins.  It’s an unusual wine, fermented and aged in stainless steel, which preserves the fruit essence, with malolactic fermentation to soften its edges.

The Planeta Mamertino 2017 (SPR $38), a blend of 60% Nero d’Avola and 40% Nocera, is a layered, delicious wine, whose ancient grape ancestors were drunk by the likes of Julius Caesar.  Intense aromas of dark, sweet berries, with Mediterranean scrub swirl from its deep palate of refined tannins.  It has an essence of umami, perhaps from the vineyard being so close to the sea in the Capo Milazzo area.

And, for you foodies, dessert was Cannoli filled with Ricotta and Pistachio Cream, a very non traditional and artistic presentation.

When you taste these wines, they are so intriguing, very different from the common international varietal wines, they engage your senses and redefine your palate.  Planeta is a complex operation, and their website is essential to understanding how diverse Sicilian wines are.  It’s a guided tour, that gives insight into the specifics of winemaking while making it very consumer friendly, assisting wine lovers in identifying the aromas and flavors that appeals most to them.

Planeta has deepened their ties to Sicily, dedicated to placing a modern spin on an ancient wine culture.  Innovative and looking to the future while farming organically and preserving its environment, Planeta crafts outstanding wines, embracing its past while reaching for the future.