Numero, Bianco 2023, IGT Terre Siciliane, Italy

Numero, Bianco IGT Terre Siciliane 2023: a simple title for a complex wine with a fascinating back story. Gian Piero makes extraordinary wines in Valtellina, up the far north of Italy, under the Dislivelli label (which we also sell). But his work as an architect takes him to other parts of Italy where he can’t himself but seek out interesting vineyards and has produced a second label, Numero, working with his partner Maria Elena, making one-off wines from vineyards that for one reason or another have available grapes to use.

Summer 2022 saw him and Maria in Sicily where Piero was working on an old church in Marsala. Through work connections they got to know about a vineyard right on the coast, overlooking the salt pans, and managed to arrange to use all the fruit from this vineyard to make wine in 2023.

The vines have been farmed organically for ever, all Grillo variety, the roots reaching down through the sandy soils to the salty water table beneath. The grapes were handpicked and whole bunch fermented with the natural yeasts in concrete tanks, and left on skins for 101 days. Made and bottled with no added sulphites, fining or filtration.

The result, a lovely, textural wine with beautiful aromatics of citrus and herbs, layers of complexity, a little salinity or savoury character, a glorious colour and that touch of grip.

Amazingly food friendly, perfect with soft, fresh cheeses, fish or a seafood risotto.

Pic 1 - each Numero wine has a different label design
Pic 2 - the Marsala salt pans, taken by @robin_o_n

PS 2024’s Numero is a red from Etna, now also in stock

Producer - Numero
Country - Italy
Region - Sicily
Sub-Region - Etna
Variety / Blend - Grillo

Wine Style - Red Wine
Farming - Biodynamic  
Vegan