Florio Vecchio Marsala Superiore

Florio Vecchio Marsala Superiore, sold as VecchioFlorio, is a Marsala Superiore DOC from Cantine Florio in the town of Marsala, on the western tip of Sicily. It is made from the local white grapes Grillo and Catarratto, fortified and aged in oak, and bottled at 18% ABV.

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Florio has made Marsala in the town since 1833, and its cellars sit close to the sea. VecchioFlorio is the house’s Marsala Superiore, a step above basic Fine Marsala. Under the DOC rules, Superiore must spend at least two years in wood, and Florio ages VecchioFlorio in oak barrels of different sizes for at least that long. The time in cask gives it an amber colour and dried fruit, vanilla and nutty notes.

It is a bottle with two uses. In the glass, it is a warming aperitif or after-dinner drink that sits somewhere between a medium sherry and a tawny. In the kitchen, a proper Marsala like this is the classic choice for chicken or veal Marsala, zabaglione and tiramisu, where it gives a far richer result than a cheap cooking wine.

Serve it chilled, around 8 to 10°C, as an aperitif, or a little warmer, 14 to 16°C, with dessert or on its own. A small wine glass works well. Try it with aged pecorino, almonds, almond biscuits or cannoli. Once open, re-seal it and keep it cool; a fortified like this holds for several weeks.