Sicilia in Bolle

Sicilia in Bolle – the review of Sicilian sparkling wines: eleventh candle for the bubble festival of Ais Agrigento Caltanissetta

The Agrigento Caltanissetta delegation together with Ais Sicilia presents the biggest highlight of the entire season: the Sicilian bubbly review.

The event will span three days including thematic talks, conferences, masterclasses, wine contests, atmospheric sunset aperitifs and gala dinners, with an appendix on mixology on July 7

Ais Sicilia and Ais Agrigento Caltanissetta once again protagonists through its regional wine appreciation events. It is coming up, in fact, between July 12 and 14 next, between Casa Diodoros in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and the Madison Restaurant in Realmonte, the eleventh edition of “Sicilia in Bolle,” the now archaic kermesse, the most relevant of the entire program year, which concerns the promotion of sparkling and sparkling wines from the entire island and beyond.

Sicilia in Bolle in the beginning a bet described as “impossible”

The first edition was born as a bet won by the then delegate of Ais Agrigento-Caltanissetta, Francesco Baldacchino, now president of Ais Sicilia, who always tells that he picked up the provocation of a northern colleague who said that from Rome downwards it should be forbidden to produce sparkling wine. A goad that acted as a spur and spark, and that leads today to narrate the eleventh time of this challenge taken up that gives luster to a sector that is always growing.

The idea, then, took shape during chats between the late Alberto Gino Grillo, late sommelier to whom an Award and a contest have been dedicated for years, and Baldacchino himself, who, together with the delegation operating group and in the evocative scenery of the Scala Dei Turchi, succeeded in shaping from nothing to a then exceptional and singular event for Sicily.

“Eleven years ago we never would have thought we would be able to collect this enormous success of acclaim,” says Ais Sicilia President Francesco Baldacchino. An event that every year is always eagerly awaited by winelovers and wineries. The latter see their products enhanced through the tasting counters, but also with thematic meetings, masterclasses and dedicated talk shows. A peculiar moment in which sparkling wine is elevated to the undisputed prince of Sicilian viticulture and which also finds a way to compare itself with products from other Italian or foreign vocated areas, such as Franciacorta, Alta Langa or France for example.”

Between the Scala dei Turchi and the Valley of the Temples

There will be three days dedicated to Sparkling wines: Saturday, July 12, Sunday 13 and Monday 14. The Madison in Realmonte (AG), a restaurant right next to the Scala dei Turchi, and the Valley of the Temples, along the Coast of Myth, in the province of Agrigento , a city for 2025 designated a capital of culture, will be the stage for this eventful 11th edition of “Sicilia in Bolle.”

Plus an appendix on Monday, July 7, at “‘Nzolia,” a restaurant wine bar, in Agrigento in which the Mixology contest “Marisa Leo Memorial Prize” will see bartenders grappling with Sicilian sparkling wines. A tribute to creativity and talent.

Expected to collaborate with two exclusive partners who will ensure a sure focus on quality and innovation: IRVO, Regional Institute of Wine and Oil, and CREA-VE, a center that deals with viticulture and carries out activities to conserve and enhance national viticultural germplasm, as well as promote cultivation techniques aimed at encouraging environmental sustainability. The two entities will be featured in an interesting conference on experimental sparkling wines moderated by Roberto Gueli, deputy national director TGR Rai.

A significant tribute to the shores of Agrigento.

“Sicilia in Bolle” is not only a wine event, but a true tribute to the territory. The choice of these exceptional locations fits perfectly into the project to enhance the Coast of Myth promoted by the Valley of the Temples Tourist District. An initiative that aims to enhance the scenic, historical and cultural wonders of this stretch of the Agrigento coast, offering visitors a complete immersion in the magic of ancient and contemporary Sicily.

In addition to the appointment that will raise the curtain on the event and which will cover the two most in vogue Sicilian autochthonous wines of the moment, Grillo and Nero d’Avola, there will be no less than three masterclasses located one per day. With some “incognito” wine glasses:

• sicilian varieties
• sparkling wine making according to the Classical Method
• comparisons with different territorial production realities.

Wine contest, sunset aperitif and gala dinner

Also scheduled for Monday 14 is the super panel of official tasters from Ais Sicilia and a number of journalists and restaurateurs who will try their hand at the wine competition, decreeing blindly the best labels according to type and color. The competition will include in closing the presentation of the “Alberto Gino Grillo Award” for the different categories.

Also scheduled is an aperitif with sunset buffet at “Casa Diodoros” on Saturday, July 12, and the following evening, that of Sunday, July 13, a gala dinner under the stars by chef Nino Ferreri of Bagheria’s “Limu” restaurant, a Michelin star, and chef Salvatore Gambuzza of the “Marriott Mangia’s Brucoli Resort” restaurant.

Dulcis in fundo and unfailing are the tasting counters at the closing of the event. On Monday, July 14, in fact, starting at 6:30 p.m. it will be possible through admission ticket to participate in tastings of dozens of Sicilian wineries at the “Kalura Gardens” of the Madison Restaurant in Realmonte. From 11 p.m. onward the now traditional cake cutting that will end with the proverbial saber rattling of sparkling wine bottles by sommeliers.

“Sicilia in Bolle” program 11th edition July 7, 12-13-14, 2025

• Monday, July 07. ‘Nzolia Agrigento – 9 a.m. – Mixology contest “Marisa Leo Memorial Award”
• Saturday, July 12. Diodoros House – Valley of the Temples Agrigento -.
  • • 5 p.m. – Opening event talk “Certainties and Legends about the Origins of Grillo and Nero d’Avola” open to the public
    • 6 p.m. – Masterclass “Sicilian sparkling wines: Grillo, Nero d’Avola and the incognito glasses!” by reservation only
    • 9 p.m. – Aperitif with sunset buffet – admission reserved for masterclass users
• Sunday, July 13. Madison Restaurant Realmonte – Scala dei Turchi -.
  • • 11 a.m. – Masterclass “Masters of Sparkling Wines: between Classic Method and Champenois” with Nicola Bonera, Ais national advisor, and Nicola Butera, Ais Sicilia speaker – reservation required
    • 8:30 pm – Diodoros House – Valley of the Temples Agrigento – Gala Dinner under the stars “Harmonies of Land and Sea Breeze.” By chef Salvatore Gambuzza of Marriott Mangia’s Brucoli Resort restaurant, and chef Nino Ferreri of Bagheria’s Limu restaurant, 1 Michelin star – reservation required
• Monday, July 14. Madison Restaurant Realmonte – Scala dei Turchi
  • • 10:30 a.m. – Sala Mare – Super panel wine competition “Alberto Gino Grillo Award” – behind closed doors
    • 11:30 a.m. – “Autoctoni” sparkling wine masterclass – reservation required
    • 4 p.m. – Sala Feste – Conference with tasting of experimental sparkling wines. Edited by IRVO and CREA-VE “High quality Sicilian sparkling wines with strong territorial characterization”. Moderator Roberto Gueli, deputy national director TGR Rai – open to the public
    • 6:30 p.m. – Kalura Gardens, opening tasting booths – with entrance fee
    • 7:30 p.m. – Kalura Gardens, presentation of “Alberto Gino Grillo awards” and “Marisa Leo Memorial award” – entrance reserved for users of the tasting tables
    • 11 p.m. – Kalura Gardens, cake cutting and saber rattling, concluding party – admission reserved for tasting booth users

All tickets related to the masterclasses, including the one with a sunset aperitif, the gala dinner and the final evening can be purchased at siciliainbolle.it where all information about the event is available