Donnafugata - Ben Rye label
Donnafugata - Ben Rye bottle

Donnafugata - Ben Rye 2022

White Wine

Log in to view pricing and order online

Don't have an account? Register here

Item# 83313C-22/12PK

Tasting notes

Ben Ryé offers an extraordinary rich bouquet with outstanding aromas obtained from the dried grapes: apricots and candied orange peel. It presents delicate hints of Mediterranean macchia. The palate is very fresh and intense, balancing perfectly the sweetness followed by a long and satisfying persistence. Ability to age 20+ years. Pair with caramelized duck, foie gras and blue cheeses. Extraordinary alone, as a meditation wine.

Vineyard

This vineyard sits at an altitude from 20 to 400 m (65-1,312 ft) with volcanic, soils mainly cultivated on terraced slopes; sandy soils, originating from lava, that vary between sub-acidic and neutral reaction; deep, fertile soils, well-endowed with minerals.

The low bush vines of Pantelleria island have been recognized on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a “creative and sustainable” practice. Planting density of 2,500 plants per hectare (1,011 an acre) with a yield of about 4 – 5 tons/ha (1,62- 2 tons an acre). Some of the vines are ungrafted and survived phylloxera exceeding 100 years in age. To compensate for scarce rainfall during the year and to help the vineyards reach optimal vegetation-production balance, 30% of cluster thinning was performed which allows them to pick healthy and well-ripened grapes, in line with the winery’s quality objectives.

Vinification

Manual harvesting of grapes takes place in small crates with careful selection in the vineyard. The harvest of the grapes for the production of Ben Ryé began on 17 August and ending on 15 September. Once the grapes reach the winery, they undergo further selection on a vibrating table before soft pressing. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel at controlled temperatures; the dried grapes are added to the fresh must in several batches. During maceration, the dried grapes release their extraordinary legacy of sweetness and freshness. The vinification process (fermentation and maceration) last over 1 month. Aging takes place in stainless steel for 7 months and at least 12 months in bottle before being released to the market.

Estate

Donnafugata Winery is one of Italy’s finest wineries and praised by wine critics and wine lovers alike all over the globe. 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 extremely dynamic and visionary. The Donnafugata brand was born in the early 1980s by Giacomo and Gabriella Rallo in the family’s historic cellars and today their children José and Antonio play prominent roles in the company.