White grape variety
Catarratto
Sicily’s most planted white variety, historically used for Marsala and bulk wine, now increasingly bottled seriously.
What is Catarratto?
Catarratto covers a large area of Sicily and much of it went into Marsala and blending. Old vines on the western hills now produce textured, characterful dry whites.
The Vitis International Variety Catalogue, maintained by the Julius Kühn Institute, holds this variety as accession 2341 under the prime name CATARRATTO BIANCO COMUNE, with berry skin colour blanc and country of origin italy, and the pedigree "GARGANEGA X MANTONICO BIANCO". Checked 2026-08-17.
What it tastes like
This is the envelope across every expression of Catarratto, not a description of one bottle. Wide ranges are the honest answer.
| Dimension | Typical | Range | Variation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetness | low | Consistent | |
| Acidity | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Alcohol | medium | Some variation | |
| Body | medium | Some variation | |
| Fruit intensity | medium | Some variation | |
| Aromatic intensity | medium | Consistent | |
| Oak influence | low | Consistent | |
| Savoury character | medium | Some variation | |
| Floral character | low | Consistent | |
| Herbal / green character | low | Consistent | |
| Spice | low | Consistent | |
| Earthy character | low | Consistent | |
| Perceived freshness | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Texture | medium | Some variation |
Common flavours
Wines made from it
The same grape in different places and different hands. These are where the wide ranges above resolve into something specific.
Where it grows
- Sicily — Italy
If you like Catarratto, try…
Every suggestion says why it is connected and what will be different.
Closest matches
What is most like this?
Grillo
Its usual partner in Sicilian whites, and the variety it is most often compared with.
Grillo is more tropical and richer; Catarratto is fresher and more citric.
Vermentino
A close match among Mediterranean whites: citrus, green almond and a saline finish.
Catarratto is a little fuller and less overtly herbal.
Etna Bianco
Both are made from catarratto, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
Similar but lighter
Something like this, but lighter?
Trebbiano Romagnolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect it to be sweeter, and more fruit-driven.
Koshu
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more restrained in fruit.
Parellada
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be more floral, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but lower in alcohol
Something like this, but less alcoholic?
Hunter Valley Semillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher and more acidic.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter.
Alpine white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
Similar but fuller
Something like this, but richer?
Soave Classico
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Friuli white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect it to be more oaky, and more savoury.
Fiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
What to eat with it
Ranked by WineHQ's pairing engine, which reasons from the structure of the dish.
Fillet steak
Works because the finished dish, not the raw ingredient, sets the target.
Salmon
Works because the dish is rich, and acidity cuts through fat and refreshes the palate.
Salmon in a cream sauce
Works because the dish is rich, and acidity cuts through fat and refreshes the palate.
Trout
Works because low tannin avoids the metallic interaction with fish.
Turkey
Works because the finished dish, not the raw ingredient, sets the target.
Halibut
Works because low tannin avoids the metallic interaction with fish.
How to serve it
Temperature
9–12°C
48–54°F · Fridge cold
From a 20°C room, roughly two to three hours in the fridge, or about 20 minutes in a bucket of ice and water.
Decanting
No need to decant
Nothing about this wine suggests it needs decanting. Light, aromatic and sparkling wines generally lose more than they gain.
Glass
Universal wine glass
A medium tulip-shaped glass handles almost everything well. If you own one set of glasses, this is the set to own — the difference between a good universal glass and a grape-specific one is far smaller than the difference between a good glass and a bad one.
Ageing
Wines made from this grape are generally at their best within a few years.
Sicily’s most planted white, and made overwhelmingly for early drinking. A small number of old-vine and skin-contact bottlings are built differently and hold for longer, but they are not what the name usually means on a label.
Family tree
Established by DNA analysis. Ampelography alone could not have found these relationships.
VIVC gives the parents as Garganega and Mantonico Bianco.
Sources
Sources consulted
- Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) — Julius Kühn-Institut, Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof