Al Qasar
The fruit of a pioneering vision
Al Qasar
ZIBIBBO / DOP SICILIA BIO
In 2010, Sicily’s wine landscape offered few dry wines crafted from aromatic grape varieties—a striking absence that overlooked the immense expressive potential of the island’s terroir. It was a paradox for a land that, for millennia, has preserved ampelographic treasures brimming with aromas and flavors, each telling ancient stories of intertwined cultures and timeless traditions.
It was within this context that Al Qasar was born—the embodiment of Rallo’s pioneering spirit. With vision and foresight, we recognized the untapped promise of Zibibbo, elevating this extraordinary grape to reveal all the elegance and intensity it had yet to share.
Grape variety
Zibibbo
Location of the vineyards
Alcamo (TP) Pattipiccolo
Alcohol
13%
Bottle size
750 ml
Service temperature
10 ° C
Pairings
Superb as an aperitif, it elevates the delicate flavors of raw seafood—even in its smoked expressions. It pairs beautifully with richly flavored dishes such as foie gras, fried specialties, or the bold character of blue cheeses.
Al Qasar
ZIBIBBO / DOP SICILIA BIO
In 2010, Sicily’s wine landscape offered few dry wines crafted from aromatic grape varieties—a striking absence that overlooked the immense expressive potential of the island’s terroir. It was a paradox for a land that, for millennia, has preserved ampelographic treasures brimming with aromas and flavors, each telling ancient stories of intertwined cultures and timeless traditions.
It was within this context that Al Qasar was born—the embodiment of Rallo’s pioneering spirit. With vision and foresight, we recognized the untapped promise of Zibibbo, elevating this extraordinary grape to reveal all the elegance and intensity it had yet to share.
Grape variety
Zibibbo
Location of the vineyards
Alcamo (TP) Pattipiccolo
Alcohol
13%
Bottle size
750 ml
Service temperature
10 ° C
Pairings
Superb as an aperitif, it elevates the delicate flavors of raw seafood—even in its smoked expressions. It pairs beautifully with richly flavored dishes such as foie gras, fried specialties, or the bold character of blue cheeses.
A Wine with a Strong Personality
With Al Qasar, we set out to redefine expectations. This groundbreaking wine offered both enthusiasts and the curious a chance to discover a Sicilian aromatic wine that is at once pleasant, immediate, and engaging from the very first sip—capable of captivating even those less familiar with the island’s white wines.
Al Qasar reveals itself instantly through its intense and unmistakable bouquet: notes of rare aromatic complexity that recall the jasmine blooming on warm Sicilian evenings, the vibrant freshness of just-picked citrus, and the evocative scents of the Mediterranean. This aromatic harmony transforms each tasting into a true sensory journey through Sicily’s gardens and coastal scrublands.
Its strong, distinctive personality is matched by remarkable versatility at the table. Al Qasar gracefully enhances the delicate flavors of small fish, seafood dishes with crustaceans and mollusks, fresh sheep’s cheeses, and traditional vegetarian recipes. Equally at ease as an aperitif or throughout a meal, it pairs beautifully with light pasta dishes and tender white meats.
The name “Al Qasar” pays homage to Sicily’s deep Arab-Sicilian heritage. Meaning “small city” or “fortified citadel” in Arabic, it evokes the island’s timeless architecture—stone guardians of a history where cultures met and flourished. This tribute also connects directly to its grape of origin, Zibibbo, itself a traveler of millennia, carried across trade routes from the Middle East to Pantelleria, where volcanic soils revealed its exceptional aromatic character.
Long considered a grape destined only for sweet and fortified wines, Zibibbo has in recent decades been rediscovered for its expressive power in dry styles. Through Rallo’s pioneering vision and relentless experimentation, Al Qasar was born: a wine that respects the grape’s ancient identity while elevating it into a modern expression of Sicilian elegance.
More Than Just a Wine
Al Qasar is born among the evocative hills of Alcamo, a land with extraordinary pedoclimatic conditions and altitudes found nowhere else in Sicily. Here, wide day-to-night temperature shifts, constant breezes that keep the vineyards healthy, and mineral-rich soils create the perfect setting to preserve the aromatic intensity of Zibibbo, while refining its structure into a wine of remarkable personality and elegance.
But Al Qasar is more than a wine. It is a living testament to the harmony between tradition and innovation—a creation that honors Sicily’s past while looking confidently toward its future. It celebrates the island’s biodiversity and elevates the unique ampelographic heritage of Western Sicily, embodying the essence of a land where history, culture, and nature meet in every glass.
The Label
In Pattipiccolo, at the heart of Alcamo, the Zibibbo vineyards that give life to Al Qasar face southeast, toward Mecca—a symbolic orientation that forges a poetic link between Sicily and the Middle East.
The label itself is crowned by a dome, a timeless emblem of Islamic architecture that has shaped the island’s history and evokes a sense of sacredness and reflection.
Its design plays on the Italian word “raccolto”—a term that signifies both the act of harvesting and a state of spiritual contemplation. These two dimensions merge within the philosophy of Al Qasar, where winemaking is practiced not only as technique but also as meditation.
Thus, the wine becomes a metaphor for a dual act of faith: faith in the generosity of the land, and in humanity’s ability to honor and transform it. Each tasting becomes an experience that is cultural and spiritual as much as it is sensory.
