Erice DOC
Erice DOC is an Italian wine denomination from the far west of Sicily, in the province of Trapani. The vineyards are situated around the historic town of Erice on the slopes of Monte Erice. The denomination was established in October 2004, making it one of Sicily’s younger DOCs.
Historic development
The area surrounding Erice forms part of a region of western Sicily with a long history of human settlement and agricultural activity. Ancient sources identify northwestern Sicily, including areas near modern-day Erice and Segesta, as the territory of the Elymians, an indigenous people present prior to Greek and Phoenician colonisation. While archaeological evidence does not conclusively demonstrate organised viticulture among these early populations, botanical studies indicate the presence of wild grapevines in Sicily during prehistoric periods.Viticulture became firmly established in Sicily with the arrival of Greek colonists from the eighth century BC onward, who introduced trained vine cultivation techniques and grape varieties from the Aegean world. The influence of Greek settlers on regional wine culture was such that ancient authors referred to southern Italy and Sicily as Oenotria, meaning “the land of trained vines”.
Medieval sources attest to the continued agricultural use of the slopes of Monte Erice. The 12th-century Arab traveller and geographer Ibn Jubayr described the mountain, which he called Jabal Hamid, as supporting vineyards and cultivated fields, indicating an established tradition of wine production in the area during the Middle Ages.
The 19th-century historian Giuseppe Castronovo recorded that from the late medieval and early modern periods onward, the countryside surrounding Erice was organised into extensive feudal estates and baronies that supported large rural populations and intensive agricultural activity, reflecting the long-standing economic importance of land cultivation in the region. Within this feudal landscape, viticulture became increasingly structured around large estates, many of which devoted significant portions of their land to vineyard cultivation. Historical accounts indicate that vineyards formed an important component of agricultural production on these properties from at least the 17th century onward, highlighting the enduring role of wine in the rural economy of western Sicily.
Castronovo further noted that viticulture in the territory surrounding Erice had already achieved a notable reputation by the 16th century. Up until the latter half of that century, the vineyards of Bonagia were particularly celebrated for the excellence of their wines, referred to as Boccasi. Over time, many of these early vineyards declined or disappeared; however, later vineyard plantings in the same area—commonly known as the Sciàre di Bonagia—continued to sustain the region’s longstanding reputation for wine production. By the late 19th century, Castronovo recorded that the wines generally considered the finest came from the district of Lenzi, followed by those of Rumena near Custonaci, those of Castelluzzo, and areas closer to Erice itself, particularly the plain of Guastella, as well as Mallata and Finocchio.
In the early 21st century, the modern framework for regulated wine production in the area was consolidated when the Erice DOC was established in 2004, superseding the earlier Colli Ericini Indicazione Geografica Tipica. The creation of the DOC reflected broader regional efforts to formalise quality standards and highlight the distinct terroir of western Sicily’s upland vineyards.
Since the late 20th century, agricultural enterprises in the Erice area have increasingly diversified their activities beyond primary production, reflecting broader transformations in Sicily’s rural economy. In Sicily more broadly, agritourism and enotourism are recognised components of rural development policies that encourage farms to combine agricultural production with tourism services, including tastings, educational visits and accommodation. Academic research identifies diversification of Sicilian farms into tourism-related activities as a sustainable rural development pathway, particularly in western Sicily’s viticultural areas.
Production area
Within the context of wider viticulture in Sicily, the Erice DOC is situated in the western part of the island within the Val di Mazara wine region. The appellation encompasses vineyards around the town of Erice as well as in surrounding municipalities including Valderice, Custonaci, Castellammare del Golfo and Trapani.Vineyard sites extend from the slopes of Monte Erice near the Tyrrhenian coast inland toward the southern interior of western Sicily, with portions of the appellation overlapping geographically with the Delia Nivolelli DOC. The production zone also lies adjacent to the historic Marsala wine region, although the styles and regulatory frameworks of the two appellations are distinct.
A defining feature of the Erice DOC is the relatively high elevation of many of its vineyards, which are generally situated between approximately 250 and 500 metres above sea level. This upland setting differentiates the appellation from lower-lying coastal wine zones of western Sicily and contributes to cooler growing conditions across much of the production area.
Grapes and wine styles
The leading red variety is Nero d’Avola, while Catarratto and Grillo dominate among the whites. DOC regulations also permit a range of international and local grapes, including Frappato, Perricone, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Grecanico, Inzolia, and Moscato of Alexandria.The DOC covers various wine styles:
- Rosso blends, with Riserva versions requiring 24 months of maturation.
- Bianco blends.
- Varietal wines.
- Special styles such as late harvest, Passito, and sparkling wines, particularly from Zibibbo and Chardonnay.
Production