Sometimes the word is enough: Ben Ryé. Anyone who pays the slightest attention to Italian wine knows that this is the name of the sweet Sicilian wine that is among the most appreciated in the world. It is a very elegant Passito di Pantelleria DOC, proposed by the Donnafugata winery. It comes from a careful processing of Zibibbo grapes dried under the island sun, and then fermented in steel at controlled temperature. To the fermenting must, produced from fresh grapes, are added, on several occasions, hand-picked and selected sultanas. During maceration, the sultanas release their extraordinary heritage of sweetness, freshness and very personal aromaticity. This is followed by a phase of refinement in tanks for about 8 months and at least another 12 months in the bottle, before being marketed. Ben Ryé is golden in colour, with luminous amber highlights. The bouquet is very intense, with notes of sultanas, apricots and candied orange peel. It is easy to distinguish, then, the delicate hints of Mediterranean scrub. In the mouth it reveals a proverbial and extraordinary freshness that perfectly balances the remarkable sweetness. Here, too, we find the same pleasant sensations of dried Zibibbo grapes, fruity sensations, aromatic herbs and honey. It is excellent when paired with spicy and sweet dishes, and goes well with caramelised duck, blue cheeses and foie gras. But it was born to exalt good Sicilian desserts or to accompany the more reflective in long and pleasant evenings of meditation.