Giuseppe Cipolla, Passofonduto Rosso, 2022
is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Passofonduto Rosso is a naturally made, field-blend red from Giuseppe Cipolla, a young winemaker working near Cefalù on Sicily’s northern coast. His wines reflect the raw, coastal terroir of the region—close to the Tyrrhenian Sea, on soils of volcanic origin, and farmed organically without irrigation.
The 2022 vintage of Passofonduto is a blend of native Sicilian varieties—likely including Nerello Mascalese, Nocera, Alicante, and possibly Frappato or Perricone. As with Cipolla’s other wines, this is spontaneously fermented, aged in neutral vessels (steel or fiberglass), and bottled unfined, unfiltered, with little or no sulfur.
In the glass, the wine is light to medium-bodied, but grippy and expressive. Expect flavors of wild red fruit, Mediterranean herbs, crushed rocks, and a touch of salt air. There’s energy and rusticity here, but also finesse—Cipolla is part of a new generation of Sicilian winemakers making natural wine that feels grounded, not chaotic.
Serve it slightly chilled, and pair with grilled eggplant, roasted lamb, or anything laced with olive oil and herbs.