The year was 1995. In Italy, the government had been led by the Honourable Silvio Berlusconi for a few months and Juventus, after 9 years, won the Scudetto. A different era. That year, in Sicily, the first vintage of the mythical Mille e una Notte was born. It was born from the dream of Giacomo and Gabriella Rallo, founders of Donnafugata, to honour their land with a great red wine, the result of collaboration with the great Giacomo Tachis. Success was immediate and within a few years the wine became part of the Olympus of cult labels. Those that must be tasted at least once in a lifetime. It is made from a blend of Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and other typical local grapes. Harvesting is by hand in boxes, with careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard and further selection of the bunches in the cellar on the vibrating table. Vinification in stainless steel, with maceration on the skins for 14 days at a controlled temperature. After processing, the wine is aged for about a year in new French oak barriques, and at least another 24 months in the bottle. Intense ruby red in colour, it presents a complex bouquet characterised by notes of red and black berry fruit, with fresh balsamic hints, spicy hints of black pepper and delicate nuances of sweet roasting reminiscent of vanilla. In the mouth it is soft and enveloping, with great structure and ripe and refined tannins. It closes with a remarkable persistence of taste. A wine destined for very long ageing, experts are ready to swear that it can easily evolve even for 20 years, if it is well preserved. On the table it requires a decisive pairing, such as a succulent rack of lamb or pappardelle with meat sauce.