Handford Wines

Founded in 1880, the Carlo Pellegrino wine house has developed over the years in step with the growth in popularity of Marsala wines worldwide. The company, which is owned by the heirs of the founder, Carlo Pellegrino, consists of two operating units, the principal winery in Marsala and a modern facility on the island of Pantelleria, about halfway between Tunisia and Sicily. The Marsala facility covers a total of 322,917 square feet and storage capacity amounts to about 5.26 million gallons with approximately 1.05 million in oak barrels and casks. The winery is equipped with an ultramodern bottling line. The company has invested substantial resources in the Pantelleria facility and is actively promoting the revival of production on the island of its famous Moscatos and raisin wines. Pellegrino has also focused close attention on the modernization and development of the raw materials. It owns about 864.5 acres of vineyards on various properties in Sicily so that the grapes used in its Marsala wines are influenced by different types of soils and microclimates. On Pantelleria, more than 300 growers supply the Pellegrino winery with grapes grown in plots enclosed by low dry-stone walls to protect them from the fierce winds that sweep across the island. Pellegrino employs 56 persons, including three managers, and produces about five million bottles annually. The house received ISO 9002 and ISO 14001 quality certification in 1999. It exports 38% of its production.

The Wine

Made on the small island of Pantelleria which situated off the Sicilian coast between north Africa the island is perhaps better known for the fine capers it produces.Carlo Pelligrino produce Marsala as their main wine.Passito di Pantelleria is made from Moscato grapes some of which are dried naturally before vinification this is a marvellous dessert wine with intense flavours of dried apricots and fruit and a real find.

Single Bottle: £11.99

In a case of 12: £11.39