Moscato di Siracusa DOC

🇮🇹 Italy

DOC Ultra-rare

DOC 1973 - EUROPE'S OLDEST documented wine (2,500+ years), Greek colony Syracusae 734 BC, Pollio's sweet Moscato, micro-appellation 10ha

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Region profile

History

734 BC: Greeks founded Syracusae (Syracuse), brought Muscat vines from Greece. Pollio (Roman writer) documented sweet Moscato production - Europe's oldest continuously documented wine. Syracuse became most powerful Greek city outside Greece (5th-4th century BC). Sweet wines prized throughout antiquity. 1890s: phylloxera devastated production. 20th century: near extinction, a few families maintained tradition. 1973: DOC granted. 1990s: revival began. Ferreri family (4 generations) became benchmark, joined by Pupillo, Marabino. Today: micro-production (10ha) of extraordinary historical wine.

Climate
Hot Mediterranean; southeastern Sicily; Siracusa (Syracuse) province; Ionian Sea coast; ancient Greek colony terroir; 10 hectares only; limestone-calcareous soils; intense sunshine; sea moderation; traditional passito sun-drying; ancient amphorae fermentation recreated
Signature wines
Moscato di Siracusa DOC (Ferreri - benchmark 4-generation estate; Pupillo; Marabino Moscato di Noto natural wine); golden to amber; intensely aromatic (orange blossom, honey, candied citrus, apricot, dried fig, jasmine); rich unctuous texture; 16.5%+ alcohol; 100+ g/L residual sugar; long honeyed finish; meditation wine or with almond pastries
What sets it apart
EUROPE'S OLDEST documented wine (2,500+ years); Greek Syracusae 734 BC foundation; Pollio's Roman-era documentation; 10 hectares only (micro-appellation); Moscato Bianco 100% passito; near extinction 20th century, revived; Ferreri 4-generation benchmark; DOC 1973 recognition; ancient Greek colony terroir; serves as living link to Mediterranean antiquity

Facts

  • DOC 1973
  • 10 hectares only (among Italy's smallest DOCs)
  • Siracusa province communes: Siracusa, Noto, Avola, Floridia
  • Greek colony Syracusae founded 734 BC
  • Pollio (Roman writer) documented sweet Moscato production
  • continuous production 2,500+ years
  • Europe's OLDEST documented wine
  • phylloxera devastated (1890s)
  • near extinction 20th century
  • revival from 1990s
  • leading producers: Ferreri, Pupillo, Marabino (natural wine)
  • Ferreri family: 4 generations, benchmark estate

Region profile from the Wine Memories wine-data corpus · verified January 2026