CicerchiaFest in Licodia Eubea!
A weekend in taste in Licodia Eubea. On Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27, the CicerchiaFest. For two days, the Catanese village will become the scene of sicilian gastronomic excellenceand with what is an evolution of the “Festival of Patacò and typical products.” The festival will take place along Corso Umberto between the town’s Piazza Garibaldi and Piazzetta Stefania Noce and is open to all.
“The event aims to be a moment of discussion and dialogue to continue to promote Cicerchia, a very ancient legume of Sicily, and the other products of the area,” says Riccardo Randello, head of the Eastern Sicily Garrisons. “After years of recovery and valorization thanks to the valuable contribution of Di3A and the knowledgeable local farmer-guardians, it is essential to continue working in this direction and give this legume the proper value it deserves. Only through a common strategy involving institutions, research organizations, associations, chefs, producers, activities, and citizens will we succeed in preserving those traditions that are otherwise in danger of being lost and that have made our land an extraordinary source of wealth.” .
The festival is organized by the Strade degli Iblei Association under the patronage of the Municipality of Licodia Eubea, in collaboration with Slow Food Sicilia, Apo Catania (Association of Oil Producers), Trasversale Sicula Association, and in synergy with Simenza, Agricoltori Custodi della cicerchia, Etna Gastronomic Educational Community, the Donne in Campo Association, Young Farmers Association, Italian Farmers Association and other local associations and entities.
For two days there will be multiple events in a busy and creative program: tastings, show cooking, taste workshops, lectures, street performers, fire games, music workshops, typical products, many guests and many novelties.
“It will be a beautiful festival in the historic center of the village where time seems to stand still,” echoes Flavio Aliotta, president of the Strade degli Iblei Association, “and here it is that to rediscover the flavors of memory and keep them alive, to promote typical quality products and safeguard from extinction minor production realities such as our Cicerchia, we need to let ourselves be swept up in the rhythms of the village and experience it fully. The idea is to offer the visitor an immersive experience within the village but also within the community. It is a path that leads to the discovery of flavors and traditions of our land, a festival felt and cherished first and foremost by the population of Licodia Eubea, which in recent years thanks to teamwork has also been transformed into a tourist attraction.”
Among the various meetings, there is a special focus on the two wine masterclasses scheduled for Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The idea is a limited number workshop/meeting where each producer can tell the story of the winery, the wines and the people who help create it.*
The first curated by Angelo Di Grazia, winemaker and enologist, will take participants on a discovery of the three iconic wines of the Ibleo area. Together with the wineries: Valle delle Ferle, Terre Di Giurfo, Beniamino Fede, Tenuta Tremollito and Meridio we will taste different declinations of Frappato, Cerasuolo di Vittoria and Nero D’avola.
1st battery: The Frappato
Murgentia Bianco Terre Siciliane IGT 2020 – Valle delle Ferle
Frappato – Beniamino Fede
‘Ntoni 2020 – Tremollito Estate
Lijari 2019 – Meridius
2nd battery: Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Cerasuolo di Vittoria – Beniamino Fede
Cerasuolo di Vittoria “Maskaria” – Terre di Giurfo
Mazzarò 2020 – Tremollito Estate
Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2016 – Ferle Valley
3rd battery: the Nero d’Avola
Nero d’Avola “Kuntari” – Terre di Giurfo
Nero d’Avola – Beniamino Fede
Arundo 2017 – Meridius
The second day, Sunday, March 27, starting at 6 p.m. there will be a focus on Etna’s grape varieties, at the Antonio Di Vita cultural center, with the tasting “Tra i calici del Vulcano,” accompanied by the stories and explanations of Irene Badalà, Cantine Nicosia, Cantine Murgo and Emilio Sciacca Winery.
In tasting:
1st battery: the Etna Whites
– Nicosia Estate Contrada Monte Gorna Etna Bianco 2020 – Cantine Nicosia
– San Michele Bianco Estate – Murgo
– Biancopiglio Etna Bianco 2020 – Emilio Sciacca
Battery 2: Etna’s Rosati and Rossi:
– Etna Rosato DOC Santo Spirito 2019 -Irene Badalà
– Etna Rosso DOC 2019 – Irene Badalà
– Rossobrillo Etna Rosso DOC 2019 – Emilio Sciacca
– Neromagno Etna Rosso DOC 2018 – Emilio Sciacca
“We are always attentive and sensitive to the realities that surround us. It came naturally to us to be able to support an initiative like this, which tells and promotes the territory and its excellences. Enhancing the territory also means knowing how to team up and put one’s professionalism at the service of an event that wants to tell the story of Sicily in all its forms,” so supported the initiative Elvio Condorelli and Rosario Ranno, owners of TodoNoleggi and among the sponsors of the event.
In short, it is a great festival to discover Sicilian taste and culture, rich in tradition but with an eye always turned to innovation.
Full info and details at www.cicerchiafest.it
*[Programma masterclass da comunicato stampa]