Marsala: Florio Winery

    Most Americani know of Marsala wine-we use it in the kitchen and rarely ever taste it.  For good reason: as we found out at the winery, only the lowest quality product made by the winery is shipped to America.  The best is kept in Italia or sent north to Western European countries.  Thw winery is located at the port in a facility that includes all the equipment necessary for modern wine making: large oak storage barrels, processing equipment, and a shipping area.  The modern tasting room includes a wine shop that caters to the many visitors who wish to "go to the source".  The business has changed hands since garibaldi himself came for a taste in 1861.  A commemorative plaque notes the visit by the leader of the revolution that created the modern Italian landscape.

A copy of one of the iconic posters

    We tasted some of their product and  we were quite surprised at the variety and quality of that wine kept for domestic consumption.