250 Years of Marsala Wine: A Celebration of Timeless Excellence

 Marsala wine, born in 1773, celebrates its remarkable 250th anniversary in 2023. It is hailed as a special wine that was "born international," as stated by Benedetto Renda, the CEO of Cantine Pellegrino and President of the Consortium for the Protection of Marsala D.O.C. Wine.

The history of Marsala, often referred to as the "nectar of the Gods," intertwines with that of three English merchants: John Woodhouse, the first to send casks of precious Marsala to England; followed by Benjamin Ingham and Joseph Whitaker, who settled in Marsala between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The long and glorious history of Marsala wine is also tied to one of the historic wine-producing companies, the "Carlo Pellegrino," founded in 1880.

The Ingham-Whitaker Archive:
Preserved within the walls of Cantina Pellegrino is the Ingham-Whitaker Archive, safeguarding the business dealings of these three English merchants with Marsala. This unique archive houses 110 volumes, containing the financial records of the London-based company, including ledgers and cash books. It also contains original letters in both Italian and English exchanged between agents, brokers, and commissioners in Italy and the Anglo-Saxon world. This invaluable archive narrates not only the history of Marsala but spans over a century from 1810 to 1926, when the Ingham-Whitaker company permanently closed its operations. Sadly, the archives of Florio and Woodhouse were destroyed in the aftermath of World War II.

The Pellegrino-Whitaker Friendship:
The Whitaker archive was gifted to Pietro Alagna, president of Cantine Pellegrino until 2018, by the last heir of the English entrepreneurs, Manfredo Pedicini, out of great friendship. The Whitakers supported archaeology, particularly funding excavations on the island of Mozia in the Stagnone. In 1971, the first female underwater archaeologist, Honor Frost, discovered the wreck of a Punic ship from 241 B.C., now housed in the Lilibeo Museum in Marsala. Pellegrino collaborated in this endeavor, with their cellar workers constructing tanks for the desalination and stabilization of the wood. The original casts of the wreck are still displayed in the cellar. The Pellegrino archive holds the historical memory of the birth of Marsala Wine and functions as a museum in its own right.

The Unfulfilled Museum of Wine:
It's worth noting that among the planned events for the 250th anniversary of Marsala's history, there was supposed to be the inauguration of the Wine Museum. However, no further information has surfaced about it. Similarly, the Enology course, initially slated to remain in Marsala and be presented at the Wine Museum, is yet to materialize.

Benedetto Renda, President of the Consortium for the Protection of Marsala D.O.C. Wine, remarked, "250 years of Marsala Wine is a unique story that no other wine in the world possesses. The new Consortium for the Protection of Marsala Wine, with eleven producing companies and six social cellars, representing farmers, has a tremendous responsibility: to restore Marsala to its past glory and splendor. We aim for quality and a new way of savoring our wine."

Marsala Doc Fest:
The celebrations for this historic milestone of Marsala wine will culminate in the Marsala Doc Fest organized by the Consortium for the Protection of Marsala D.O.C. Wine. From October 6th to 8th, the Consortium has decided to mark this extraordinary achievement with a special event. Three days entirely dedicated to tastings, music, art, and excellent food, to discover the infinite nuances of a unique wine, an excellence of Made in Italy. This wine was born from the passion of generations of winemakers and producers united by the desire to enchant all Wine Lovers with this exceptional product, just as it did with John Woodhouse.