2023 04 03 Comunicato Stampa Opera Unica Eng
Donnafugata steps into spring with the new Opera Unica 2018, a remarkable Chardonnay produced by unusual climatic conditions. A fine limited edition wine fully in keeping with the winery’s tailored style and innovative approach.
Donnafugata welcomes the spring with the Opera Unica 2018 Chardonnay: from the countryside of western Sicily, a one-off wine with a completely original sensory profile, product of rare weather conditions and craftmanship.
Opera Unica is the consequence of an unusual harvest on the Contessa Entellina Estate, one which has not been repeated since 2018. The strong precipitation recorded in mid-August in a Chardonnay vineyard bordered by the Senore brook made harvesting impossible at that time; the unique temperature and humidity subsequently facilitated the appearance of a noble form of Botrytis cinerea on the grapes. In the first days of September the winery decided to collect the grapes and ferment them separately with the idea of creating something special.
“In the summer of 2018 we thought we had lost the produce of that little vineyard,” explains Antonio Rallo, winemaker of the family winery. “But then we decided to put our thinking caps on and take on the unprecedented challenge of trying to tap into all the sensory potential that those grapes seemed to offer. The careful fermentation and bottle-ageing process of over 4 years made it possible to bring out the typical aroma precursors of the botrytized grapes in all their glory. Compared with the classic tropical or delicately roasted notes of our Chardonnays, Opera Unica is very different in style and just as amazing as we hoped. It has an incredibly broad bouquet, is very dense on the palate and has a freshness that catches you by surprise.”
A flower that has blossomed in the face of adversity: this Chardonnay is a thing of rare beauty and takes its name from an earlier Opera Unica, marketed in the 1980s by Giacomo Rallo and his wife Gabriella, the visionaries that began the Donnafugata adventure. Now, just as then, the uncompromising personality of this wine can be seen in every detail, including the fact that its production run amounts to just 6,574 bottles.
With its golden and coppery tints, Opera Unica stands out for its notes of ripe yellow fruit, candied citrus, saffron, ginger, chestnut honey and beeswax; in the mouth, it is a dry wine with notable acidity and a pleasantly tangy finish. A wine with many facets which come together to compose a mosaic of incredible harmony and elegance. It goes well with sushi, semi-mature cheeses, and mushroom and white meat-based dishes.
“This Chardonnay is the product of an innovative artisanal process geared to bringing out the best of all our vineyards,” underlines Josè Rallo, manager of the company together with brother Antonio. “Every vintage brings new challenges; in 2018 the grapes harvested in that vineyard were an exception which we decided to take a chance on, eventually forming the basis for another valuable limited edition production fully in keeping with the values of Donnafugata. A completely original product that will delight both enthusiasts and collectors.”
The uniqueness of the wine is further underlined by the Klimt-esque label designed by Stefano Vitale on which floral and geometric details form the backdrop to a woman mysteriously wrapped in a cloak of colours and decorations that symbolically celebrate the sensory depth of this Opera.
Marsala, 3 April 2024
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Baldo M. Palermo [email protected] ph. +39 0923 724 226
Emanuele Corsale [email protected] ph. + 39 0923 724 225
