Vino Lauria “Radice” Catarratto (Orange) · Sicily, Italy · 2023

The Moment

This is orange wine in its most Mediterranean expression — sun-warmed citrus peel, sea air, wild herbs underfoot. Structured but refreshing, it’s a bottle that rewards curiosity without demanding endurance.

What It Feels Like

Pouring a luminous deep gold — almost molten in color, the wine opens with layered aromatics of chinotto orange, dried citrus peel, hawthorn, and wild Sicilian herbs. There’s an earthy calm to the nose — not oxidative, but grounded and savory.

On the palate, it’s textural and grippy, driven by bright acidity and fine tannins from short skin contact. Flavors move through melon, pear, apricot, apple, and starfruit, finishing with a distinctive sea-air salinity and bitter citrus edge that keeps the wine dry, focused, and food-ready.

The structure is present but refined — firm without heaviness, expressive without funk.

Perfect For

• Roasted vegetables and Mediterranean herbs

• Grilled seafood or octopus

• Aged cheeses or nut-driven dishes

• Fans of orange wine who want balance over extremity

The Vibe Pairing

• Playlist energy: Slow psychedelia, desert folk, vinyl jazz

• Aura color: Burnished gold, dried herbs, citrus peel

• Time of day: Golden hour → long, slow dinner

Why We Love It

Radice shows exactly why Catarratto is one of Sicily’s great under-celebrated grapes. The brief skin contact gives grip and depth, while the acidity and salinity keep it agile and alive. It’s complex, expressive, and deeply rooted in place — orange wine with restraint and intention.

Wild & Experimental · Still White (Orange Wine)