Vino dELLa Sicilia: Tasting Millennia | NOVEMBER 18 & 21
It’s said you can taste millennia in the wines of Sicily.
It started with the Greeks, who took advantage of the island’s volcanic soil and Mediterranean climate to make wines that became famous throughout the ancient world. After that, Sicily’s wine industry endured centuries of empires, eruptions and neglect.
Today, Sicily’s winemakers produce delicious, high-quality wines. They’re considered among the world’s best wine values.
They are also fascinating, for several reasons. For one, Sicily’s wines embody contradictions born of a long history. On the one hand, Sicily is Italy’s largest region, yet it’s viticulture is comprised of thousands of small vineyards. The wines are ancient and avant-garde. Rustic and simple, yet refined and complex.
The dramatic revival of Sicily’s wine industry in the past couple decades has been led by a new generation of winemakers and growers that have embraced Sicily’s indigenous grapes. The island’s climate also allows for respect of the ecosystem through nonintervention, sustainable farming.
These factors combine to produce the authentic, unique, place-driven wines. Pure expressions of the island. Please join the Holly Hill Wine Guild for VINO DELLA SICILIA: TASTING MILLENNIA on Tuesday, November 18 or Friday, November 21.
We’ll sample two white and four red wines, all made with indigenous Sicilian grapes.
Mount Etna, on the island’s northeast corner and the largest active volcano in Europe, represents the beating heart of Sicily’s wine industry. Its black, ashy soils rise above the island, rich in minerals and free draining, perfect for winemaking. Altitudes ranging to 3000 feet offer cool nights and a long growing season. It’s an environment unlike any other wine region in the world.
We’ll sample Etna’s two main DOC wines. Etna Bianco (white) is made primarily with two grapes: Carricante and Catarratto, known for producing citrusy, ultra-crisp wines. Etna Rosso (red) is made with Nerello Mascalese and often compared to the single-varietal wines of Burgundy and Barolo.
From Sicily’s center, we’ll sample a white wine made from the Grillo grape, known for fresh, minerally dry wines. It’s said you can taste the sea breeze in the white wines of Sicily.
From the island’s warm, sun-drenched western plains, we’ll drink a red that blends Nerello Mascalese with the aromatic and floral grape Frappato.
The southeast corner of Sicily has received critical acclaim for bright, aromatic red wines. We’ll start with a 100% Nero d’Avola, Sicily’s signature grape, elegant, spicy and complex. We’ll finish with the distinctive Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Sicily’s only highest-category DOCG. It blends the dark fruit and power of Nero d’Avola with the bright qualities of Frappato.
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Our Holly Hill Wine Guild tastings take place in the Pavilion Bar at historic Fasig-Tipton, home to North America’s oldest Thoroughbred auction company. Tastings begin at 7 pm and last one hour. The cost is $40 for members and $45 for nonmembers. When registering, please select the date you want to attend and indicate your status as a HHWG member or non-member.
We also offer an optional $27 dinner buffet served at 6:15 pm.
2025 schedule of Monthly tastings
Holly Hill Wine Guild tastings take place in the Pavilion Bar at Fasig-Tipton. Each month we have two seatings, usually one on a Tuesday and the other on Friday. They begin at 7 pm and last an hour. We also offer optional buffets that start at 6:15 pm. Here is the 2025 program schedule.
Tuscan Wine Roads Less Traveled | January 17& 21
When Tuscany’s most celebrated wines are mentioned, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano spring to mind. But lurking behind these iconic wines lie hidden gems that showcase the breadth and richness of the region’s wine industry. We’ll explore lesser known but equally compelling wines representing a variety of grapes and styles.
Grenache: The World’s Most Versatile Grape | February 18 & 21
Known as Garnacha in Spain and Cannonau in Italy, Grenache offers winemakers a gigantic range of options. Its versatility is breathtaking (and mouthwatering): rosé from Provence, Spanish rosado, stand-alone or blended in Rioja, the “G” in GSM, with Carignane in Priorat, backbone of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, jammy in Barossa Valley, even fortified in Banyuls. We’ll explore as much of it as we can!
Sipping with Gods: Greek Wine from Antiquity to Today | March 18 & 21
A thousand years before the Roman Empire spread vineyards and wine culture throughout Europe, the Greeks had traded wine throughout the ancient world. Homer, Plato and Aristotle all sang wines praises, believing it a gift from the god Dionysus, son of Zeus. We’ll explore Greece’s diverse wine regions, distinctive varietals and the modern revival of Greek winemaking heritage.
Ancient Rivals: Bordeaux and Burgundy | April 1 & 4
Despite (or perhaps because of) the intriguing differences between Bordeaux and Burgundy, the two powerhouse French wine regions have inspired and served as benchmarks for winemakers around the world. We’ll explore how that divergence in histories, winemaking philosophies, climates, grape varietals and even bottle shapes influence the regions’ acclaimed red and white wines.
Old World vs. New World Sauvignon Blanc | May 6 & 9
Sauvignon Blanc is a wine of place, yet easily identified for its crisp, refreshing acidity. For decades, its undisputed benchmarks have been Old World regions of Sancerre, Bordeaux and Alto Adige. But competition has emerged in places far flung as New Zealand, South America and California. We’ll compare varying contexts and choices that produce this “clash” of acclaimed Sauvignon Blanc.
Portugal Uncorked | June 3 & 6
From ancient origins to its modern renaissance, Portugal embodies a rich wine history and a promising future. Sporting a wide array of grape varieties – 250 indigenous! – its recent revitalization is driven by innovation, investment and a new generation of winemakers. We’ll explore the robust Portuguese reds of the Douro region, the effervescence of Vinho Verde and fortified richness of Port.
Red Wines from the Alps: Barolo and Beyond | July 15 & 18
Spanning France, Switzerland, Italy Slovenia and Austria, the Alps are not only one of the world’s most iconic mountain ranges, but also provide a rich and diverse terroir for producing wines, including reds. Alpine reds are known for complexity and depth, reflecting their high-altitude setting. We’ll explore wines from the well-known to those deserving greater attention and appreciation.
California Beyond Napa and Sonoma | August 19 & 22
California’s wine industry is synonymous with its iconic regions, Napa Valley and Sonoma County, and their world-class Cabernet, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. However, the Golden State’s fine wine story is much broader, featuring unique terroirs, innovative winemakers and variety of styles. We’ll explore attention-worthy wines from the Central Coast, Sierra Foothills, SoCal and the North Coast.
Six Families that Revolutionized the Winemaking World | September 16 & 19
Behind the finest bottles of wine lie stories of families whose passion and innovation elevated winemaking to new heights. Often considered Wine Royalty, these families have not only revolutionized the industry, but also defined identities of important regions. We’ll explore the legacies of six pioneering wine families from France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Australia and the United States.
Germany’s Mouthwatering Wines | October 28 & 29
Well into the twentieth century, Germany, along with France, was one of two dominant wine producing nations. Featuring steep vineyards and a cool northern climate, it’s winemakers today craft wines that exhibit vivid, pure expressions of fruit. German Riesling – most are dry or a bit off-dry – has become the darling of sommeliers and wine lovers, with good reason. We’ll explore Germany’s white and red (pinot noir!) wines.
Vino della Sicilia: Tasting Millennia | November 18 & 21
As Italy’s largest region, the island of Sicily enjoys a unique and ancient wine culture influenced by the many nations that conquered it over the millennia. That rich history, along with the fertile black volcanic soil of Mt. Etna, now produces delicious, fascinating wines. We’ll explore Sicily’s reinvented wine industry, unique grape varietals, bold spicy red wines and racy vibrant whites.
Grand Finale | December 16 & 19
We’ll conclude our 2025 program with a tasting of the year’s top wines as curated by Wine Guild director Steve Mancuso.
The Holly Hill Wine Guild was founded in 2008 and is directed by Steve Mancuso.
The Holly Hill Inn wine list features owner Chris Michel’s thoughtfully chosen selections and has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 2002. Chris is dedicated to finding the best and most interesting wines possible to pair with our seasonal cuisine, and our wine list features stalwarts and upstarts from the Old World and New!