Yearly Harvest of Zibibo Grape falls to an all time low.

If the figures are correct, the harvest of the grape for Passito was this year 2,500 tons of grapes. Down from 45,000 tons some years before. Production has clearly fallen to record low levels.

Here is a link to the original story (Passito endangered) that I read online about this problem.

I have talked to a few people here on the island and they say this may be accurate information. The current harvest of Passito translate to at least 90,000 bottles. The economy of Pantelleria depends strongly on Passito, but mostly I think on Italian Tourists.

The Mayor of Pantelleria is quoted as saying the grape growers need better machinery. This is nonsense as no machinery is used to harvest or grow the grapes. Once harvested they go to small but rather modern wine making business on the island. We have at least six good operations that can make a good quantity of outstanding Passito. Grapes are needed to do this. the idea of bringing in some sort of machinary is nonsense.

The growers need to get a better price for their wine. Right now a bottle of Passito sells for around 18 dollars us around the island if you know the locals. In Toko it sells for 350 us dollars. It is very hard for the growers and bottlers to imagine they can get a real world price for this rare and exceptional wine. People from outside of Italy will have to, and could in fact, rescue Passito from this problem simply by developing and supporting a fair market trade for what is one of the world's most unique wines. The Sicilians of Pantelleria have not a clue as to the value of this treasure which sits on every table.

We are looking for licensed importers that can understand the value of paying a good price for a few hundred or 1,000 bottles of a rare wine in the real world.These stories going around about the extinction of Passito are empty and poorly researched...but in a stumbling way have hit upon a problem that a clever wine developer who understands his art could change in a season.

HERE is a link to a more thoughtful article on the situation in the MSM...