DOC · Sicilia

Riesi

Riesi DOC (Sicilia) at a glance: 14 recorded wine types, with the main requirements from the official production specification. Listed types include Riesi Bianco and Riesi Cabernet Sauvignon. The technical sections cover grape yields, minimum maturation, market-release rules for the relevant wine types.

✓ Verified· September 2026

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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.

RegionSiciliaProvinceCaltanissetta

Wine typesRiesi Bianco, Riesi Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesi Chardonnay, Riesi Insolia, Riesi Merlot, Riesi Nero d’Avola, Riesi Novello, Riesi Rosato, Riesi Rosso, Riesi Spumante, Riesi Superiore, Riesi Superiore Riserva, Riesi Syrah, Riesi Vendemmia Tardiva

Grape varieties / compositionVaries by wine type: see the comparison below

Maximum grape yield13 t/haMaximum wine yield91 hl/ha

Minimum planting density3,200 vines/haMinimum alcoholic strength11% vol

Ageing—Minimum ageing in wood—

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Wine type A · referenceWine type B · comparison

ParameterRiesi BiancoRiesi Cabernet SauvignonΔ vs A

ColourWhiteRed—

Grape varieties—Cabernet sauvignon 85–100%—

Maximum grape yield13 t/ha10 t/ha-3 t/ha (-23.1%)

Maximum wine yield91 hl/ha70 hl/ha-21 hl/ha (-23.1%)

Minimum planting density3,200 vines/ha4,000 vines/ha+800 vines/ha (+25%)

Ageing———

Minimum ageing in wood———

Minimum alcoholic strength11% vol12% vol+1% vol (+9.1%)

Minimum total acidity4.5 g/l5 g/l+0.5 g/l (+11.1%)

Minimum sugar-free extract16 g/l22 g/l+6 g/l (+37.5%)

Release for consumptionvintage + 1 yearsvintage + 1 years0 years (0%)

ARiesi BiancoBRiesi Cabernet Sauvignon

Colour

AWhite

BRed

Δ vs A—

Grape varieties

A—

BCabernet sauvignon 85–100%

Δ vs A—

Maximum grape yield

A13 t/ha

B10 t/ha

Δ vs A-3 t/ha (-23.1%)

Maximum wine yield

A91 hl/ha

B70 hl/ha

Δ vs A-21 hl/ha (-23.1%)

Minimum planting density

A3,200 vines/ha

B4,000 vines/ha

Δ vs A+800 vines/ha (+25%)

Ageing

A—

B—

Δ vs A—

Minimum ageing in wood

A—

B—

Δ vs A—

Minimum alcoholic strength

A11% vol

B12% vol

Δ vs A+1% vol (+9.1%)

Minimum total acidity

A4.5 g/l

B5 g/l

Δ vs A+0.5 g/l (+11.1%)

Minimum sugar-free extract

A16 g/l

B22 g/l

Δ vs A+6 g/l (+37.5%)

Release for consumption

Avintage + 1 years

Bvintage + 1 years

Δ vs A0 years (0%)

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Common questions

When can Riesi 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

Product specification source · expandable detail

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.

Riesi Bianco

Grape composition—

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type13 t/ha3,200 vines/ha10.5%—

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%91 hl/haPratiche previste dal disciplinare.

Ageing

TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees

Release for consumption———

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

paglierino più o meno intenso talvolta con riflessi verdognoli11% vol4.5 g/l16 g/l

Riesi Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape compositionCabernet sauvignon 85–100%

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type10 t/ha4,000 vines/ha12%—

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%70 hl/haPratiche previste dal disciplinare.

Ageing

TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees

Release for consumption———

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

rosso rubino intenso12% vol5 g/l22 g/l

Riesi Chardonnay

Grape compositionChardonnay 85–100%

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type10 t/ha3,200 vines/ha11.5%—

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%70 hl/haPratiche previste dal disciplinare.

Ageing

TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees

Release for consumption———

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

giallo paglierino con riflessi dorati11.5% vol4.5 g/l15 g/l

Riesi Insolia

Grape compositionANSONICA 85–100%

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type11 t/ha3,200 vines/ha11%—

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%77 hl/haPratiche previste dal disciplinare.

Ageing

TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees

Release for consumption———

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

giallo paglierino11% vol4.5 g/l15 g/l

Riesi Merlot

Grape compositionMerlot 85–100%

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type10 t/ha4,000 vines/ha12%—

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%70 hl/haPratiche previste dal disciplinare.

Ageing

TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees

Release for consumption———

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

rosso rubino intenso12% vol4.5 g/l20 g/l

Riesi Nero d’Avola

Grape compositionCALABRESE 85–100%

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type10 t/ha4,000 vines/ha11.5%—

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%70 hl/haPratiche previste dal disciplinare.

Ageing

TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees

Release for consumption———

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

rosso rubino intenso11.5% vol5 g/l22 g/l

Riesi Novello

Grape composition—

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type11 t/ha4,000 vines/ha11%Novello derivato dal tipo Rosso.

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%77 hl/haMacerazione carbonica di almeno il 40% delle uve.

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

rosso rubino più o meno intenso, talvolta con riflessi violacei11.5% vol5 g/l20 g/l

Riesi Rosato

Grape compositionCALABRESE 50–75%

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type12 t/ha4,000 vines/ha10.5%—

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%84 hl/haVinificazione in rosato o coacervo di uve rosse e bianche anche ammostate separatamente.

Ageing

TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees

Release for consumption———

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

rosato più o meno intenso11% vol4.5 g/l18 g/l

Riesi Rosso

Grape composition—

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type11 t/ha4,000 vines/ha11%—

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%77 hl/haPratiche previste dal disciplinare.

Ageing

TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees

Ageing4 months——

Minimum total 4 months: 0 months are assigned to a specific minimum stage; the remaining 4 months form part of the overall period without a specified minimum stage.

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

rosso rubino più o meno intenso con eventuali riflessi granato11.5% vol4.5 g/l20 g/l

Riesi Spumante

Grape composition—

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type13 t/ha3,200 vines/ha10.5%Uvaggio del Bianco.

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%91 hl/haElaborazione spumante secondo normativa vigente.

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

paglierino più o meno intenso10.5% vol5 g/l16 g/l

Riesi Superiore

Grape compositionCALABRESE 85–100%

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type9 t/ha4,000 vines/ha12.5%—

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%63 hl/haInvecchiamento obbligatorio.

Ageing

TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees

Ageing24 months6 months—

Minimum total 24 months: 6 months are assigned to a specific minimum stage; the remaining 18 months form part of the overall period without a specified minimum stage.

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

rosso rubino intenso tendente al granato13% vol5 g/l26 g/l

Riesi Superiore Riserva

Grape compositionCALABRESE 85–100%

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type9 t/ha4,000 vines/ha13%—

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%63 hl/haInvecchiamento obbligatorio.

Ageing

TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees

Ageing36 months12 months6 months in bottle

Minimum total 36 months: 18 months are assigned to a specific minimum stage; the remaining 18 months form part of the overall period without a specified minimum stage.

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

rosso rubino intenso tendente al granato13% vol5 g/l26 g/l

Riesi Syrah

Grape compositionSyrah 85–100%

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type10 t/ha4,000 vines/ha12%—

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine70%70 hl/haPratiche previste dal disciplinare.

Ageing

TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees

Release for consumption———

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

rubino più o meno intenso12% vol4.5 g/l20 g/l

Riesi Vendemmia Tardiva

Grape composition—

Viticulture

RuleYieldPlanting densityNatural alcoholOfficial condition (IT)

Wine type7 t/ha3,200 vines/ha13.5%Uve appassite sulla pianta; raccolta non prima del 10 ottobre.

Winemaking

StageGrape-to-wine yieldMaximum wine yieldOfficial rule / area (IT)

Finished wine60%42 hl/haAppassimento sulla pianta; raccolta non prima del 10 ottobre.

Ageing

TypeTotalWoodBottle / lees

Release for consumption———

Characteristics at release

ColourMinimum alcoholic strengthMinimum total acidityMinimum sugar-free extract

giallo intenso, tendente all’ambrato18% vol4.5 g/l20 g/l

Municipalities / permitted area

Zona di produzione RiesiOfficial Italian wording

Articolo 3 Zona di produzione delle uve La zona di produzione delle uve atte alla produzione dei vini a denominazione d’origine controllata “RIESI” ricade nella Provincia di Caltanissetta e comprende l’intero territorio amministrativo dei comuni di Butera, Riesi e Mazzarino.

Art. 3

Official source

Official product specification · Riesi

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