Missing 'The White Lotus?' Here Are Some Excellent Sicilian Wines to Try

Here are the wines to pair with your next re-watch of season 2.

In late 2022, The White Lotus once again stole the hearts of television fans, pop culture lovers, and essentially the entire internet. We simply couldn't stop talking about what went down every Sunday night on HBO. Nor could we stop talking about that hotel, and in some circles (i.e., ours), we also couldn't stop asking ourselves, "Wait, what wine are they drinking?" And though Anthony Giglio can't bring Tanya back, what he can do is give us his best guess as to what our favorite hotel guests were drinking, as well as a peek into what makes Sicily such a special wine region too.

"I think The White Lotus piqued a lot of people's interest in Sicily in general," Giglio, a wine expert and the Wine Director for The American Express Centurion Global Lounge Network, shares. "Tourism is off the charts this year there."

Beyond the gorgeous scenery, historic sites, and stunning accommodations, Giglio also wants people to take a little time to sip something Sicilian. Even if the bottle's label feels complicated.

Related: The 15 Best Wines from Sicily's Mount Etna to Buy Right Now

"I used to say that before Mount Etna became so popular that Sicily was the new old world in that all of the wines there are made with varietal grapes on the label," he says. "It's easy for Americans to pick up a bottle of Sicilian wine and say, 'Oh, I, at least I've heard of that grape.'

However, wines made around Mount Etna may be harder to wrap your head around, as rarely do you get the grape. But luckily for us all, Giglio says there's a simple solution.

"It's easy if you just wrap your head around Etna White Etna red and leave it at that," he says. "Just know that both equal delicious and you'll be all set."

Though if you really need it broken down, Giglio explains that Etna Rosso "in the easiest terms is Pinot Noir, but it could have a little more power. Unlike American Pinot Noir, it might not be as fruity upfront, so it might be more chalky and minerally, and it definitely has the European profile of being higher acid, higher earthiness, [and] Etna Bianco equals Chablis which is Chardonnay without Oak. They're big wines. Really big wines."

It's a wine experience you can share with Giglio at this year's Food & Wine Classic in Aspen at his panel, The Sicilian Wines of The White Lotus. There, he'll walk guests through tastings of  the 2015 Murgo Extra Brut Spumante Metodo Classico, the 2020 Planeta Etna Bianco, the Tornatore Etna Bianco, and the extra special Donnafugata Dolce & Gabbana 'Rosa' Rosato, which he calls both a beautiful wine and a "gorgeous bottle." But, if you can't make the trip this year, that's OK, as Giglio also hosts some rather spectacular tours in Sicily, which you can learn more about by dropping him a personal note. We promise, there are no murder-y adventures included.  

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