If you associate Moscato with intensely sweet wine, Cantine Pupillo’s Pollio Moscato di Siracusa may surprise you.

We tasted Pollio at the Pupillo estate just outside the ancient city of Siracusa, surrounded by gardens, vineyards, and the presence of the Mediterranean. The wine had residual sugar, but it did not feel heavy. Instead, it was refreshing, mineral, and remarkably precise.

The setting made the experience even more memorable: a tasting room beside the historic Castello del Solacium, with the vineyards and sea nearby.

A Sicilian estate beside a historic castle

Cantine Pupillo feels less like a conventional tasting room and more like a private garden shaped by wine, history, and the coast.

We arrived for a tasting with Christian Liistro, the winery’s warm and knowledgeable wine merchant. The tasting room sits beside Castello del Solacium, a fortress that has watched over the surrounding land for centuries.

The vineyards grow close to the castle and the sea. That proximity gives the visit its particular atmosphere, but it also helps explain why the wines feel so connected to their surroundings.

The landscape is lush and fertile. The air carries floral aromas and salt from the Mediterranean. Everything encourages you to slow down before tasting.

Exploring the elegance of Pupillo’s wines beneath Castello del Solacium

Pollio Moscato: fresh rather than overly sweet

The most memorable wine of the tasting was Pollio, a Moscato made from Moscato di Siracusa.

It contained approximately 30 grams of residual sugar, but the sweetness did not dominate the wine. Instead, it was balanced by freshness and a mineral quality that reminded us of a Kabinett Riesling.

That comparison is useful for anyone who enjoys aromatic white wines but worries that Moscato will be too sweet. Pollio had the fragrance and lift we associate with Moscato, but the overall impression was more focused and refreshing than heavy.

It felt distinctly Sicilian, too. There was a sense of the nearby sea in the wine, not as a literal flavor, but as a freshness that kept inviting another sip.

This is the kind of wine that can change how someone approaches a grape variety. You do not need to decide whether you “like sweet wine” in the abstract. The better question is whether the wine’s sweetness is balanced by acidity, texture, and freshness.

The Pollio Moscato evoked the elegance and vibrance of a Kabinett Riesling

A local cheese made the wine sing

The most convincing part of the tasting came when we paired Pollio with Albacara Fattoria del Grano, an organic cow’s milk cheese rolled in cracked black pepper.

The cheese brought together tangy, spicy, and creamy flavors. Against that combination, Pollio seemed to come alive. The wine’s freshness lifted the richness of the cheese, while its sweetness softened the pepper and tang.

This is the practical lesson we took from the pairing: a wine with noticeable sweetness does not have to be reserved for dessert. With the right cheese or savory dish, it can become a lively table wine.

Other wines from Cantine Pupillo

Pupillo’s sparkling rosé, made from Nero d’Avola, was another highlight. It showed delicate fruit, fine bubbles, and a subtle savory spice that made it feel different from a conventional sparkling rosé.

The wine was expressive without becoming loud. That same sense of restraint appeared in the tasting as a whole: the wines were clean, focused, and shaped by their Sicilian setting.

Why visit Cantine Pupillo?

Cantine Pupillo is worth seeking out if you are exploring eastern Sicily and want a wine experience that combines a historic setting, a garden-like estate, Sicilian wines beyond the most familiar names, a tasting connected to local food, and a personal welcome from the people behind the winery.

Carmela Pupillo, the owner, greeted us with genuine warmth. She spoke with quiet pride about the land her family has cultivated for generations.

That hospitality is central to the experience. Cantine Pupillo is not simply a place where wine is served. It is a meeting point between the land, the history of Siracusa, the Mediterranean, and the people who continue to care for the estate.

Cantine Pupillo is a living expression of land, history, and the generosity of its people

If you want to explore Pollio, you can check current availability of Pupillo’s Pollio Moscato di Siracusa. Vintage and retailer availability may change.

Cantine Pupillo is part of the Sicily chapter in our guide to the most important wine regions in Italy, which explores the island beyond Mount Etna.

Visit our Italy page for a full overview of wine in Italy.