Ben Ryé 2021

Donnafugata's Ben Ryé is an extraordinary Passito di Pantelleria. It embodies all the strength and energy of the island where it was born.

The name is no coincidence: in Arabic, Ben Ryé means "daughter of the wind", which is how Pantelleria is defined. Here, in fact, the Mediterranean wind blows over the bunches of grapes, carrying with it and diffusing into the air the unique fragrances of Pantelleria's famous bush vine, the Zibibbo.

From these grapes the sweet wine Ben Ryé inherits an exclusive style. The Zibibbo is grown in 11 different districts of the island, each with its own microclimate; this characteristic results in unique fruit in each of the vineyards. The result is excellent and expresses in the best possible way the most authentic soul of its terroir.

With Ben Ryé Donnafugata makes an amazing meditation wine with dry pastries and chocolate, which also does not disdain different pairings at the table such as caramelised duck, foie gras and blue cheeses.

It has a splendid golden colour with amber highlights. The olfactory profile is rich and intense, ranging from notes of sultanas to those of apricots and candied fruit, all seasoned with delicate hints of Mediterranean scrub. On the palate, Ben Ryé is sweet but not cloying; its excellent freshness makes it a well-balanced dessert wine. And then, it confirms the sensations suggested by the nose with numerous scents that delight the mouth: from fruit to aromatic herbs and honey to mineral notes, each element has a perfect place in a wine with a long and wonderful persistence.

The ideal serving temperature for Donnafugata's Ben Ryé sweet wine is between 12 and 14 °C.