Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/16170
UP The Friendly Sicilians: Daniele Pozzi isn’t a native of Sicily, but he could pass for one. Pozzi describes Sicilians as warm and friendly—a description that perfectly fits Pozzi himself. It also aptly characterizes his line of Villa Pozzi wines, comprised of four estate-produced varietals from Sicily. Highly approachable for both the palate and the pocketbook, these are wines intended not to be pondered but enjoyed. First as grape growers and later as winemakers, Pozzi’s family has been involved in the wine industry in northern Italy for four generations. Daniele claims—only partly in jest—that he grew up drinking wine instead of milk. “We would ask for the red water,” he laughs. The Pozzis have had a close relationship with W. J. Deutsch since becoming the first Italian supplier in the importer’s portfolio back in 1984. In fact, the family’s previous wine label, La Francesca, was named in honor of Frances Deutsch, the wife of company founder Bill Deutsch. (It’s no coincidence that the Pozzi family company is also the Italian importer of Australian mega- brand Yellow Tail, which Deutsch imports and markets in the United States.) Ten years ago, the Pozzi family bought a 19th- century winery near Marsala, in the northwest corner of Sicily. “We wanted to create something different, something new, something from a new area,” says Pozzi, adding that they also wanted these wines to be affordably priced. Following an extensive renovation of the winery, the Villa Pozzi line was launched in 2006. Each of the four wines is priced to retail in the neighborhood of $11. Total production is currently about 250,000 cases; almost a third of that is exported to the U.S. All of the Villa Pozzi wines are now made from grapes grown in the estate’s vineyards, which sit high above the sea at 1,300 feet. In addition to benefiting from the tempering effect of the vineyards’ elevation on the potentially searing Sicilian climate, the grapes are also harvested relatively early in the season (as well as early in the morning) to avoid the excessive alcohol levels found in some more traditional Sicilian wines. The standout in the group is the Villa Pozzi 2008 Nero d’Avola, the indigenous red wine that gives the line “a taste of Sicily,” as Pozzi puts it. With a bright bouquet redolent of blackberries and a fresh, surprisingly New World flavor pro- file, it’s the brand’s sales leader in the off-premise category. Pozzi says his goal is to make it the top-selling Nero d’Avola in America, an objective that he believes is already within reach. / the tasting panel / september 2010 Villa Pozzi A Sicilian Pinot Grigio recently joined the Pozzi line-up. Rounding out the reds are the Villa Pozzi 2008 Merlot, aged entirely in steel, and the Villa Pozzi 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% of which sees some oak aging. Both offer a lively balance of forward fruit and subtle acidity. The Villa Pozzi 2009 Pinot Grigio is the winery’s first Sicilian Pinot Grigio (previous vintages were from the Veneto region). Crisp and refreshing as a newly-picked pear, it’s Villa Pozzi’s on-premise star. —David Mahoney Lionello Marchesi, Barone Fini and Villa Pozzi are imported by W. J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd. PHOTO: JENNIFER CRESS