Download Complete Production Notes

Planeta is a Journey through Sicily.

And that journey begins at Sambuca di Sicilia, on the estate which the Planeta family has owned since the 1600s. Here on Italy’s most enchanting island, three enthusiastic young Sicilians, Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta, began their winemaking venture in the mid-1980s. Subsequent years were spent matching the extraordinarily diverse Sicilian soils with both indigenous and international varieties. Years of careful research paid off when the Planeta wines were met with immediate critical acclaim upon introduction in the U.S. in the late 1990s.

Over the last few years, the Planetas have become enchanted by another great district, Noto. They purchased 60 hectares in the Contrada Buonivini, such a delightfully pure place that they wished to preserve it by building an ‘invisible winery’ which is completely underground. Soils of incredible lime and tufa content characterize the district. The Moscato variety originated in this area.

Production Area
Noto, Sicily, Italy

Grape Varieties
100% Moscato Bianco

Vinification
Harvested in late August followed by 40 days of open air drying. The grapes are then de-stemmed and crushed; the juice is clarified through cold settling overnight and then inoculated with selected yeast. Fermentation takes place first across 15 days at a cold temperature of 15˚C (59˚F) and is then raised to 20˚C (68˚F) for a long, slow fermentation totaling 120 days. The wine rests in stainless steel tanks throughout and is then bottled in the March following the harvest.

Color
Bright golden yellow

Bouquet
Concentrated notes of dried apricots, mango, orange peel, plums, dates, pistachio and vanilla cream; accented by notes of tea, orange blossoms, ginger and sesame seeds(typical fragrances of Sicilian cakes)

Taste
Creamy, dense and full-bodied, yet graceful; sweetness predominates, balanced by a lively acidity, resulting in a voluptuous and lingering finish

Alcohol
9.5%

Serving Suggestions
Enjoy with baked apples in orange sauce, small cakes, fruit tarts, vanilla –flavored Bavarian cake and other assorted pastries. Also delicious with fresh fruit. For an amazing experience, pair with prosciutto and melon.