1. Antica Cantina Pandiani Aglianico
STORY:“It’s a family secret,” she said, taking another sip of the PanidianiAglianico.“It’s also the story of
this wine, and explains why a family from northern Italy has its name on a red wine from southern Italy,
from Sicily. My cousin Filippo would never tell you, but the Pandiani family has some royal blood flowing
in its veins.Let me explain…..<br /><br />
The story of Pandiani Aglianico begins in the mists of time, with the ancient Greeks, and spans Italy from
south to north, Turin in fact, thehome of the Italian royal family, the House of Savoy, the world's oldest
and longest reigning dynasty.Turin is also the ancestral home of the Pandiani family, were who members
of the court of Turin – but I’m getting ahead of my story.<br /><br />
When the Greeks began to settle in southern Italy and Sicily in the 8th century BC, they brought wine-
making with them, planting several varieties of grapes, including the black-skinned red grape that has
come to be known as Aglianico.The origins of the name are now lost to history, although one theory is
that it is derived from the Latin word for Greece, Hellenica.<br /><br />
The wines of Sicily, of course, have been renowned for thousands of years, and sought after by Popes,
Dukes, and Kings.They came to be associated with the House of Savoy and Turin when, in 1713, the
Treaty of Utrecht rewarded withVittorio Amedeo II, Duke of Savoy, new lands and a Crown in Sicily.He
was now a King.<br /><br />
Family history says Vittorio sent a member of the Pandiano family, Piero, known for his taste in wine, to
Sicilyto select and oversee bringing wines back to the royal court.Piero took his younger brother Antonio
with him.One can imagine that the royal family was delighted to now enjoy the same exceptional wines
as the Pope, these southern Italian wines so different from those of northern Italy-“the sunlight of Sicily
and the fires of Mt. Etna,” captured in a bottle – deep dark red, warm, intense, and smooth.And so the
Pandiani family not only enjoyed the wines of Sicily at court dinners, they had some in their own cellars
as well.<br /><br />
But that’s not the secret….You know how royal courts were in those days… full of intrigue…. Vittorio, it
seems, was enchanted by another member of the Pandiano household, a lovely young lady from
Palermo, married to Piero’syounger brother, Antonio.He had met her on the visit to Sicily with his older
brother.Her name was Francesca, and she was a gifted writer of poetry.We can imagine her entertaining
the royal court at salons, as was the custom in those days, with readings, and perhaps even having
private audiences with the King.<br /><br />
Did Vittorio and Francesca become lovers, sharing Aglianico wine and poetry?We think its very
possible.Of course, she would have concealed that from Antonio, or if he suspected, he would not have
admitted it.Antonio and Francesca had 10 children, and the secret oral history passed down through the
generations of Pandiani women says at least one of the sons was of royal blood…. “<br /><br />

2. So its only fitting perhaps, that this Pandiani Aglianico carries on this tradition -the marriage of north
and south – the Aglianico wine from Sicily under the name of a family of the royal court of Turin.
DESCRIPTION:Originally from Greece and an early Roman favorite, the Aglianicogrape was planted as
early as the seventh century B.C. in southern Italy.Since the Aglianico vine prefers dry, warm conditions,
it has been introduced to Sicily from the Basilicata area on mainland Italy by a few select vintners, with
outstanding results. <br /><br />
Pandiani Aglianico is produced in southeastern Sicily, near the “Valley of the Temples,” and the ancient
town of Agrigento, founded as Akragas around 582 BC, which the Greek poet Pindar described as "the
most beautiful city of the mortals."<br /><br />
It is made usingonly steel tanks, which preserves the fruity bouquet and the purity of the flavors of the
Aglianicograpes, and then aged for 6 months in the bottle.Readyto enjoy 12 to 24 months after vintage,
this is a remarkable and easy to enjoy wine.
TASTING NOTES:This dark red wine has a remarkable bouquet of dark wild berries.The flavor is smooth
and luscious – dark berries and cherries, with spicy black currant, exotic spice and licorice notes, and
hints of chocolate and plums.Pandiani Aglianico is a stylish, intriguing young red, with fine tannins and a
ripe balanced finish, complex and structured.It can be enjoyed a mere half an hour after opening.
FOOD PAIRINGS:Pandiani Aglianico is the perfect wine to serve with the Mediterranean dishes and the
cuisine of the island of sunlight and fire - pasta, veal or lamb, and of course seafood, such as “Zuppe di
pesce,” a fish and tomato stew, or perhaps its San Francisco cousin, cioppino.<br /><br />
For a wonderful vegetarian meal, pair Pandiani Aglianico with Eggplant Parmigiana and spaghetti with
garlic and olive oil, or perhaps Pasta alla Norma (spaghetti with sautéed tomato and eggplant),named in
honor of the Sicilian composer Vincenzo Bellini and his opera “Norma.”Eggplant is a staple of Sicilian
cuisine, introduced by the Arabs –in fact eggplant parmigiani means eggplant in the Persian (arab)
style.Almost any rich eggplant dish is wonderful with Pandiani Anglianico.<br /><br />
And of course, Sicilian pizza is not enjoyed to the fullest without a glass or two of a fine Sicilian wine,
such as this Pandiani Aglianico.