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Pantelleria is an Italian island situated southwest of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, and it is noted for its sweet wines, Moscato di Pantelleria and Moscato Passito di Pantelleria, both made from the local Zibibbo grape. The most distinctive element in its terroir is the strong hot winds that come out of Africa on their way to southern Italy, along with the high summer temperatures. Even in the past, the drying of grapes and making of wine was familiar to many cultures that occupied the island, including Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, and Arabic.
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Marsala, on the other hand, is an Italian town located in the westernmost part of Sicily. The present-day name, deriving from the Arabic “Marsa Allah”, meaning “Port of God”, gives us an idea of just how strategically important the town once was. However, when the English came to Marsala, they did not come to conquer, but rather for the town’s recognized wine. Since they thought it would be popular in their native country, they needed to fortify the wine with the addition of alcohol if it was to survive the long ocean voyage – thus was born Marsala wine.
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