Feudo Arancio "Hedonis" Syrah Nero d'Avola

90 Points, Wine Spectator

Sicily’s rich winemaking tradition dates back to the Greek occupation of the island thousands of years ago. Not only did they leave their winemaking techniques, but their mythology, as well. Among these mythical figures was Hedonis, the incarnation of pleasure.

In a libation to this aspect of Sicily’s past, Feudo Arancio have created Hedonis, a wine meant to be pleasurable to everyone – from the novice wine drinker to the most experienced palate. A true interpretation of the Sicilian pursuit of pleasure, Hedonis is made from Nero d’Avola, a native varietal at the heart of Sicilian winemaking, and Syrah, a varietal that thrives in warm climates like Sicily. Only the best grapes of each varietal are selected and fermented separately before they are blended and aged for a minimum of 16 months.

Arancio is a very large 650-hectare estate owned by the Mezzacorona winery in
Alto-Adige, in the far north of Italy. The winery is three kilometres from the eastern seashore, giving the wines an attractive lightness. A relatively new venture, this winery shows great promise. The range which includes both local and international varieties, are very well-made, and reasonably priced, too.