Mille e Una Notte Contessa Entellina DOC

Producer history

Donnafugata was founded in 1983 by Giacomo Rallo and his wife Gabriella Anca, extending a family wine story that goes back to 1851 in Marsala, where the company still keeps its historic cellars. Gabriella inherited the Contessa Entellina estate — 40 hectares of vineyards — from her father, and that property became the launchpad for the new venture; the company states plainly that 'Donnafugata originated among the hills of Contessa Entellina.' Sons José and Antonio joined in 1990, and a sixth generation arrived in 2022 with Gabriella Favara. The name comes from Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's novel The Leopard, referring to the flight of Queen Maria Carolina, who found refuge in the place that is now home to the estate's vineyards.

Signature pairings

• Braised beef in red wine sauce — The producer suggests roast and braised meats; slow-cooked beef meets the wine's velvety tannin and liquorice-and-pepper spice.
• Rack of lamb with herbs — Named by the producer as a match; lamb's fat and savour balance the wine's structure while the mint note plays directly into the dish.
• Pasta with slow-cooked meat ragù — The producer cites first courses with ragù; tomato acidity and rendered meat fat sit comfortably with Nero d'Avola's dark-fruit weight.