Collection: Pantelleria: Abbazia San Giorgio

今次引進了Zibibbo白葡萄，葡萄的中文名更是不得了：亞歷山大麝香。為這葡萄取中文名的人應記一功，以地名亞歷山大(Alexandria)連結歷史和地理，道出Zibibbo的故事。

Zibibbo葡萄原產於北非，公元前當葡萄酒還是祭祀器物之時已被先人種植，以古埃及人種植最廣。說到這裡，難怪一看到亞歷山大麝香葡萄，即讓現今的我們想起古希臘的亞歷山大港(日後落入古埃及人手中)，神遊2000年前雲集商旅驛馬的港口與燈塔，和擠滿學者哲人的大學與圖書館。

Zibibbo白葡萄帶著文化混血，在羅馬帝國時期經亞歷山大港傳播到地中海的各個地方，當然這包括了位於西西里與北非之間的Pantelleria小島。說Zibibbo盛載著遠古燦爛的文化，並沒有誇張。

Abbazia San Giorgio酒莊正是抱著復興Zibibbo白葡萄配合現今釀造法而來的。酒莊堅源用古希臘Alberello小樹式種植法，而傳統上，Zibibbo葡萄是釀造風乾甜酒，在酒單上我們當然能找到這款佳釀。另一方面，酒莊也破格地把Zibibbo葡萄造成其他酒款，如橙酒，更用上了amphora雙耳陶罐法，結合傳統與創新，將古老小島連接國際。

題外話：Pantelleria的Alberello小樹式種植法於2014被聯合國教科文組織列為非物質文化遺產。

Welcome to the volcanic island, the largest satellite island of Sicily. Volcanic activities are still very much active here, the last eruption occured below sea level in 1891.

Born and raised on the island, Battista Belivis studied Agronomy in Palermo and worked with natural wine legend Gabrio Bini in his winery Serragghia for 11 years before founding his own winery Abbazia San Giorgio in 2015.

Instead of making traditional sweet wine from sun-dried grapes (Passito di Pantelleria), Battista choose to focus on dry wine. His source of inspirations to make an orange wine did not came from Georgia and the Caucasus; instead, it came from the local farmers (scroll down for more information)! 

In the world of natural wine, the wine style of Abbazia San Giorgio uniquely combines low intervention, organic and biodynamic philosophies with local traditions. These are natural wines which are not only irresistibly drinkable, they also have varietal characters and finish with a touch of this satellite island!