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.

Menfi, in the southeastern portion of Sicily, is the heart of Planeta and its operational base. Various types of soil are found here, but all are rich in lime and clay, ideal for the international red grape varieties which are transformed into wine at La Dispensa winery – Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Production Area
Menfi, Sicily, Italy

Grape Varieties
100% Syrah

Vinification
The grapes are de-stemmed and crushed; extraction on skins followed by 12 days of maceration at 25°C with fermentation taking place in stainless steel tanks. After racking, the wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels

Color
Ruby red with violet undertones

Bouquet
Full and rounded bouquet; intense spiciness with hints of pepper, cloves and rosemary. Overtones of cassis, coffee, fig and red fruit jam

Taste
Fresh fruit dominates; luscious and supple in texture, with a mouth-filling character

Alcohol
13.5%

Serving Suggestions
Pair with mature cheeses, beef dishes, lamb with ginger sauce, cheeseburger with mushrooms, or herb-encrusted ribs