She is full of good ideas, bubbles with joie de vivre and represents her wines with a lot of fire: José Rallo. She is the face and the voice of Donnafugata. The winery was founded by her parents at the beginning of the 80s and since then has shaped the image of Sicilian wine. Today, the colorful bottles enjoy cult status among many wine lovers, and hardly any traveler will miss them in Sicily's restaurants and delicatessens. José is an innovative entrepreneur and artist who is making a splash and adding color to Sicily's male-dominated wine world. Together with her brother Antonio, she keeps the business on its toes. So in 2016, the two decided to expand Donnafugata and also make wine on the north side of the Sicilian volcano – in close proximity to the lava flow that terrified an entire village in 1981. A game with fire? Fear and fascination are close together here at the highest active volcano in Europe. The Etna DOC region is currently considered the hotspot of Sicilian viticulture, its wines captivate with exceptional elegance. The «Sul Vulcano» is a fresh red wine with aromas of wild berries and floral notes. Light, original and good-humored. In a way, a reflection of José when she is on stage with her jazz band and lends her voice to the wines. While the audience tastes Donnafugata wines, she emphasizes the character of the wine with her music. «I love to sing my wines», says the spirited Sicilian. By the way, she donates the money from these four-dimensional concerts to the Children's Hospital in Palermo. Applause!

Manduria – even the name sounds like something out of an ancient mythical tale. Indeed, the best wines of this region beguile us with their mysterious taste: hidden under the deep, dark fruit slumber wonderful spicy aromas as if from the Arabian Nights. With the «Miraculum» wines, the «Produttori di Manduria» have succeeded in capturing this magic. As a symbol of this, the «Fonte Pliniano» of Manduria can be found on the label. This fountain was built by the founders of the city in mythical prehistoric times and has puzzled people since ancient times: the source is located in an underground cave, which is reached by a staircase carved into the stone. When water is drawn from it, the basin immediately fills up again – but never overflows. It goes without saying that numerous legends are told about this magical place. The «Miraculum» producers attach particular importance to complexity and elegance: The wines are vinified dry, sweetness and acidity are nicely balanced. Although scientists have since been able to explain the miracle surrounding the fountain, it is still considered a symbol of nature's generosity. And as is well known, nature gives the Pugliese people not only water, but also the best wine.