DOC · Sicilia
Marsala
Marsala DOC (Sicilia) at a glance: 5 recorded wine types, with the main requirements from the official production specification. Listed types include Marsala Fine and Marsala Superiore. The technical sections cover minimum ageing, market-release rules for the relevant wine types.
✓ Verified· September 2026
Production rules at a glance
Quick overview of the key requirements. Values and conditions can vary by wine type: consult the detailed rules and official source.
RegionSiciliaProvinceTrapani
Wine typesMarsala Fine, Marsala Superiore, Marsala Superiore Riserva, Marsala Vergine o Soleras, Marsala Vergine Riserva o Soleras Riserva / Vergine Stravecchio o Soleras Stravecchio
Grape varieties / compositionVaries by wine type: see the comparison below
Maximum grape yield—Maximum wine yield—
Minimum planting density—Minimum alcoholic strength17.5% vol
Ageing12 monthsMinimum ageing in wood—
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Quick comparison within the appellation
ParameterMarsala FineMarsala SuperioreΔ vs A
Colouroro, ambra o rubino secondo la designazioneoro, ambra o rubino secondo la designazione—
Grape varietiesANSONICA, CATARRATTO BIANCO COMUNE, CATARRATTO BIANCO LUCIDO, Damaschino, GRILLO, CALABRESE, NERELLO MASCALESE, PERRICONEANSONICA, CATARRATTO BIANCO COMUNE, CATARRATTO BIANCO LUCIDO, Damaschino, GRILLO, CALABRESE, NERELLO MASCALESE, PERRICONE—
Maximum grape yield———
Maximum wine yield———
Minimum planting density———
Ageing12 months24 months+12 months (+100%)
Minimum ageing in wood———
Minimum alcoholic strength17.5% vol18% vol+0.5% vol (+2.9%)
Minimum total acidity3.5 g/l3.5 g/l0 g/l (0%)
Minimum sugar-free extract17 g/l17 g/l0 g/l (0%)
Release for consumption———
AMarsala FineBMarsala Superiore
Colour
Aoro, ambra o rubino secondo la designazione
Boro, ambra o rubino secondo la designazione
Δ vs A—
Grape varieties
AANSONICA, CATARRATTO BIANCO COMUNE, CATARRATTO BIANCO LUCIDO, Damaschino, GRILLO, CALABRESE, NERELLO MASCALESE, PERRICONE
BANSONICA, CATARRATTO BIANCO COMUNE, CATARRATTO BIANCO LUCIDO, Damaschino, GRILLO, CALABRESE, NERELLO MASCALESE, PERRICONE
Δ vs A—
Maximum grape yield
A—
B—
Δ vs A—
Maximum wine yield
A—
B—
Δ vs A—
Minimum planting density
A—
B—
Δ vs A—
Ageing
A12 months
B24 months
Δ vs A+12 months (+100%)
Minimum ageing in wood
A—
B—
Δ vs A—
Minimum alcoholic strength
A17.5% vol
B18% vol
Δ vs A+0.5% vol (+2.9%)
Minimum total acidity
A3.5 g/l
B3.5 g/l
Δ vs A0 g/l (0%)
Minimum sugar-free extract
A17 g/l
B17 g/l
Δ vs A0 g/l (0%)
Release for consumption
A—
B—
Δ vs A—
TOOLS
Appellation calculators
Vineyard area and production, grape-to-wine yield, release for consumption and latest marketable vintage.
Common questions
How long must Marsala be aged?
For the Marsala Fine wine type, the specification records at least 12 months of ageing. Other wine types may have different requirements; see the detailed rules below.
When can Marsala wine be released for sale?
The permitted release depends on the rules for the specific wine type and, where required, its vintage. Check the official specification and the calculator where applicable.
TECHNICAL DATA
Structured data by wine type
Data by wine type
Numeric values come from the shared structured database. Official names, geographical names and regulatory wording are kept in Italian where appropriate.
Marsala Fine
Grape compositionANSONICA, CATARRATTO BIANCO COMUNE, CATARRATTO BIANCO LUCIDO, Damaschino, GRILLO, CALABRESE, NERELLO MASCALESE, PERRICONE
Viticulture
RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)
General ruleCommon to the appellation———tuttavia è ammessa l’irrigazione di soccorso.
General——12%—
Winemaking
StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)
elaborazione——Pratiche enologiche leali e costanti; aggiunta di alcole etilico di origine viticola o acquavite di vino. Mosto cotto vietato nei Fine e Superiore oro/rubino; obbligatorio almeno 1% nei Fine e Superiore ambra.
Ageing
TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees
invecchiamento12 months——
Minimum total 12 months: 0 months are assigned to a specific minimum stage; the remaining 12 months form part of the overall period without a specified minimum stage.
Characteristics at release
ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract
oro, ambra o rubino secondo la designazione17.5% vol3.5 g/l17 g/l
Marsala Superiore
Grape compositionANSONICA, CATARRATTO BIANCO COMUNE, CATARRATTO BIANCO LUCIDO, Damaschino, GRILLO, CALABRESE, NERELLO MASCALESE, PERRICONE
Viticulture
RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)
General ruleCommon to the appellation———tuttavia è ammessa l’irrigazione di soccorso.
General——12%—
Winemaking
StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)
elaborazione——Pratiche enologiche leali e costanti; aggiunta di alcole etilico di origine viticola o acquavite di vino. Mosto cotto vietato nei Fine e Superiore oro/rubino; obbligatorio almeno 1% nei Fine e Superiore ambra.
Ageing
TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees
invecchiamento24 months——
Minimum total 24 months: 0 months are assigned to a specific minimum stage; the remaining 24 months form part of the overall period without a specified minimum stage.
Characteristics at release
ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract
oro, ambra o rubino secondo la designazione18% vol3.5 g/l17 g/l
Marsala Superiore Riserva
Grape compositionANSONICA, CATARRATTO BIANCO COMUNE, CATARRATTO BIANCO LUCIDO, Damaschino, GRILLO, CALABRESE, NERELLO MASCALESE, PERRICONE
Viticulture
RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)
General ruleCommon to the appellation———tuttavia è ammessa l’irrigazione di soccorso.
General——12%—
Winemaking
StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)
elaborazione——Pratiche enologiche leali e costanti; aggiunta di alcole etilico di origine viticola o acquavite di vino. Mosto cotto vietato nei Fine e Superiore oro/rubino; obbligatorio almeno 1% nei Fine e Superiore ambra.
Ageing
TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees
invecchiamento48 months——
Minimum total 48 months: 0 months are assigned to a specific minimum stage; the remaining 48 months form part of the overall period without a specified minimum stage.
Characteristics at release
ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract
oro, ambra o rubino secondo la designazione18% vol3.5 g/l17 g/l
Marsala Vergine o Soleras
Grape compositionANSONICA, CATARRATTO BIANCO COMUNE, CATARRATTO BIANCO LUCIDO, Damaschino, GRILLO, CALABRESE, NERELLO MASCALESE, PERRICONE
Viticulture
RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)
General ruleCommon to the appellation———tuttavia è ammessa l’irrigazione di soccorso.
General——12%—
Winemaking
StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)
elaborazione——Vietati mosto cotto, mosto concentrato e sifone; consentita aggiunta di alcole etilico di origine viticola e/o acquavite di vino.
Ageing
TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees
invecchiamento60 months——
Minimum total 60 months: 0 months are assigned to a specific minimum stage; the remaining 60 months form part of the overall period without a specified minimum stage.
Characteristics at release
ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract
oro, ambra o rubino secondo la designazione18% vol3.5 g/l21 g/l
Marsala Vergine Riserva o Soleras Riserva / Vergine Stravecchio o Soleras Stravecchio
Grape compositionANSONICA, CATARRATTO BIANCO COMUNE, CATARRATTO BIANCO LUCIDO, Damaschino, GRILLO, CALABRESE, NERELLO MASCALESE, PERRICONE
Viticulture
RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)
General ruleCommon to the appellation———tuttavia è ammessa l’irrigazione di soccorso.
General——12%—
Winemaking
StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)
elaborazione——Vietati mosto cotto, mosto concentrato e sifone; consentita aggiunta di alcole etilico di origine viticola e/o acquavite di vino.
Ageing
TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees
invecchiamento120 months——
Minimum total 120 months: 0 months are assigned to a specific minimum stage; the remaining 120 months form part of the overall period without a specified minimum stage.
Characteristics at release
ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract
oro, ambra o rubino secondo la designazione18% vol3.5 g/l21 g/l
Municipalities / permitted area
Zona di produzione MarsalaOfficial Italian wording
Articolo 3 Zona di produzione La zona di produzione delle uve destinate alla preparazione dei vini liquorosi di cui al precedente art. 1, comprende l’intero territorio della provincia di Trapani, esclusi i comuni di Pantelleria, Favignana ed Alcamo.
Art. 3Official source
Official product specification · Marsala