Agricola VINB 'Viaggio Ad Ovest'

Viaggio Ad Ovest – 'Journey to the West' – is Agricola VINB's pure Catarratto from Chiaramonte in southeastern Sicily. This is Catarratto at its most honest and approachable, showing what Sicily's most important white grape can do when it's grown in the right place and handled with care.

VINB is a young project – the first vintage was 2022 – founded and run by two friends, Vittorio and Biagio. They farm four hectares biodynamically, working with local growers who share their commitment to quality over quantity. It's the kind of small-scale, hands-on winemaking that's becoming increasingly rare, and you can taste the care in every bottle.

Catarratto is Sicily's workhorse white grape, but when it's treated with respect, it makes wines with real character. Viaggio Ad Ovest captures that perfectly – citrus, stone fruit, white flowers, a touch of Mediterranean herbs, and that characteristic freshness that comes from careful farming and minimal intervention in the cellar.

Chiaramonte sits in the southeastern corner of Sicily, where the Mediterranean climate and limestone soils create ideal conditions for white grapes. The winemaking is straightforward – letting the grape express itself without interference, in line with their biodynamic philosophy.

This is the kind of wine that works just as well on a weeknight as it does at a dinner party. It's food-friendly, easy-drinking, and genuinely enjoyable. Pair it with seafood, grilled fish, pasta with light sauces, or fresh cheeses. Serve it well-chilled and don't overthink it – this is pure, honest Sicilian white at a great price.