About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The fruit comes from 11 plots across Pantelleria. The vines grow in mineral-rich volcanic soils and range in age, with some reaching 100 years. Mild winters and summers, pronounced day–night temperature variations and the island’s winds shape the growing conditions.
Vinification
The plots are harvested at different times, often at night to prevent the heat from causing premature fermentation. Grapes picked in August dry for 20–30 days in the hot Sicilian sun and warm winds. A second picking takes place in September; these grapes are gently pressed and fermented in stainless-steel tanks. The dried grapes are destemmed by hand and added gradually during fermentation.
Ageing
The wine rests for eight months in vats, followed by 12 months in bottle.
Tasting profile
The gradual addition of dried grapes during fermentation produces a balance of freshness and sweetness. The winds of Pantelleria contribute to its distinctive freshness.
Label / history
“Ben Rye” means “son of the wind” in Arabic, referring to the winds that sweep across Pantelleria. The wine inspired chocolatiers Cecilia and Paul De Bondt to create “De Bondt Rye,” a chocolate filled with figs soaked in Ben Rye, almonds and wine jelly.
Donnafugata means “woman in flight” in Italian. According to legend, Queen Maria Carolina fled Naples and took refuge in a town in the Santa Margherita Belice valley; the story inspired the windblown female head that appears on many Donnafugata labels.
