Holiday Pack: Island Wines

Two Sicilian whites that bring a breath of Mediterranean sea air to the winter table.

Cantine Rallo is a family winery in Alcamo, on Sicily's northwestern coast, that has been growing grapes for generations. They take Catarratto, the island's everyday white grape, and give it the care that turns it into something with real character.

Tule is pure Catarratto from limestone soils close to the sea, and you can taste both. It's citrus, stone fruit, and Mediterranean herbs, with a salty edge and really nice freshness. Doesn't need food, but anything not too heavy or creamy should go well here, as it's a very flexible style.

Anna Martens and Eric Narioo have made wine together on the north face of Mount Etna for nearly 15 years. They farm their volcanic vineyards by hand and organically.

Jeudi 15 Bianco is only the second bottling of this cuvée. It brings Carricante from a young vineyard on sandstone, fermented in a chestnut barrel, together with Catarratto and Grecanico from Flascio, a site strewn with river stones left behind when the Flascio burst its banks. It has yellow peach, then ripe lemon and pineapple, with a juicy and fleshy feel like biting into ripe fruit, with almost electric energy. Pair with a wintery salad made from fennel, oranges and olives.