Ep. 1397 José Rallo | Wine, Food & Travel With Marc Millon

Welcome to Episode 1397 in which Marc Millon interviews José Rallo of the Donnafugata winery, winner of the best sweet wine (Passito di Pantelleria DOC Ben Ryè 2021 with 95 points) at the 5StarWines and Wine Without Walls wine selection in 2023. More about today’s guest: Josè Rallo is Donnafugata CEO and co-owner with her brother Antonio, 5th generation of a family with over 170 years of experience in quality wine. She attended economic studies; she has professional experience in management control and a strong passion for marketing and corporate communication. She invented a new way to recount wine, as a singer of Donnafugata Music & Wine. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Assovini Sicilia, of ITA - Italian Trade Agency and of FAI - Fondo Ambiente Italiano. Donnafugata is wine craftsmanship. The company focuses attention on small productions of value from unique territories and vineyards. Donnafugata produces wines that convince enthusiasts and collectors from all over the world, with respect for the environment. The company can count on a historic family cellar and four estates. The historical family cellars in Marsala, the estate of Contessa Entellina in the hearth of western Sicily; in eastern Sicily, on the northern slope of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe and in the territory of Vittoria DOC, in Acate. Finally, in Pantelleria, a volcanic island between Sicily and Africa, has the winery in Khamma district and 68 hectares (168 acres) of Zibibbo vineyards cultivated with low bush vines called “alberello pantesco” (Unesco - Intangible Cultural Heritage) and 7 hectares (17 acres) of olive groves. The symbol of this viticulture is the Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria, Donnafugata’s iconic wine. The result of an innovative and customized production process, based on the natural drying of fresh grapes on racks, the manual destemming of dried grapes and a unique vinification process developed by Donnafugata, Ben Ryé is today considered one of the most appreciated natural sweet wines in the world. To learn more about the company visit: Website: www.donnafugata.it/en/ Instagram: @donnafugatawine Facebook: DonnafugataWine More about the host Marc Millon: Marc Millon, VIA Italian Wine Ambassador 2021, has been travelling, eating, drinking, learning and writing about wine, food and travel for nearly 40 years. Born in Mexico, with a mother from Hawaii via Korea and an anthropologist father from New York via Paris, he was weaned on exotic and delicious foods. Marc and his photographer wife Kim are the authors of 14 books including a pioneering series of illustrated wine-food-travel books: The Wine Roads of Europe, The Wine Roads of France, The Wine Roads of Italy (Premio Barbi Colombini), and The Wine Roads of Spain. Other titles include The Wine and Food of Europe, The Food Lovers’ Companion Italy, The Food Lovers’ Companion France, Wine, a global history. Marc regularly lectures and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy and France with Martin Randall Travel, the UK’s leading cultural travel specialist. He is soon to begin a regular series on Italian Wine Podcast, ‘Wine, food and travel with Marc Millon’. When not on the road Marc lives on the River Exe in Devon, England To learn more visit: quaypress.uk/ marcmillon.co.uk vino.co.uk quaypress.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marc-millon-50868624 Twitter: @Marc_Millon Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram @italianwinepodcast Facebook @ItalianWinePodcast Twitter @itawinepodcast Tiktok @MammaJumboShrimp LinkedIn @ItalianWinePodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin!