White
Damaschino
A white of western Sicily permitted in Marsala alongside Grillo, Catarratto and Inzolia. It gives a soft, low acid, fairly neutral wine and was historically used in the Trapani blends that went into fortified wine rather than bottled for itself.
Worth knowing
Its origin is unknown. The name suggests Damascus and tradition says the vine came to Sicily during Arab rule, though no evidence ties it to Syria. It was first documented in 1868 by the Agrigento ampelographer Mendola, and it helped replant the Marsala vineyards after phylloxera.
Where it is allowed1 appellation