Marsala at its best

The premium Marsalas are “Superiore” and “Vergine”, aged for two and five years respectively; Vergine Riserva or Stravecchio wines are at least ten years old. The most distinctive of Marsalas, and some would say the best, are made by Marco De Bartoli, who insists on picking grapes so ripe that he considers fortification unnecessary. His range of 10-, 20- and 30-year-old Marsalas are called Vecchio Samperi, and are unfortified and unsweetened. The Marsalas produced by Pellegrino and Florio are also of outstanding quality.