Cantine Ermes Vento di Mare Grillo 2024: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Sea-spray & mineral

Cantine Ermes Vento di Mare Grillo 2024 is a bright, organic Sicilian white with coastal freshness and plenty of citrus lift. Expect lime zest, lemongrass, coriander seed, yellow melon, tropical fruit and Mediterranean citrus, with a dry palate and salty mineral finish. It is crisp, clean and very food-friendly — exactly the kind of white to pour with seafood, salty snacks, lemony chicken, fritters or a sunny aperitivo spread.

Highlights

• Organic Sicilian Grillo
• 90 points and Best Buy — Wine Enthusiast
• Crafted by Cantine Ermes — Sicilian cooperative producer with a strong focus on organic viticulture
• Grown in Sicilia DOC from hand-harvested Grillo grapes
• Stainless-steel aged for freshness, citrus brightness and clean mineral detail
• 12.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Fresh lime zest, lemongrass and coriander seed lead the nose, followed by yellow melon, tropical fruit, Mediterranean citrus and a lightly herbal edge. The palate is dry and lively, with lemon, lime, grapefruit, yellow melon and tangy minerals moving through a crisp, salty finish. It is clean, coastal and refreshing, with enough texture to work at the table rather than disappearing after the first sip.

Winemaking

This Grillo is made for freshness and purity, with 3 months of ageing in stainless steel. The stainless-steel approach keeps the fruit bright and the texture clean, allowing the citrus, melon, herbal notes and mineral line to stay front and centre. There is no oak influence, so the wine remains crisp, direct and aperitif-friendly.

Vineyard & Vintage

Vento di Mare Grillo is grown in Sicily under the Sicilia DOC designation. The grapes are harvested by hand in late August from Guyot-trained vines grown on dark alluvial, deep, medium-textured soils. Sicily’s warm Mediterranean climate gives Grillo ripe yellow-fruit flavour, while sea breezes and mineral soils help preserve freshness, salinity and lift.

Why We Love It

This is such a useful white: bright enough for aperitivo, textural enough for food, and interesting enough to stand apart from the usual Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. The combination of lime zest, herbs, melon and salty minerality makes it perfect for Australian summer drinking, especially with seafood or anything lemony and crisp from the kitchen.

Food Pairing

Cantine Ermes Vento di Mare Grillo 2024 is a natural match for seafood, citrus, herbs, salty snacks and fresh Mediterranean dishes. It also works beautifully with vegetarian plates where lemon, herbs, zucchini, fennel or creamy cheese are part of the dish.

Try matching this wine with →

• Sicilian seafood pasta with lemon, chilli and herbs — Find a Recipe
• Zucchini fritters with yoghurt, mint and lemon — Find a Recipe
• Lemon herb chicken with crisp salad — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

For aperitivo hour, seafood lunches, beach-house dinners and those evenings when a crisp white with a salty little edge is exactly right. Chill it well, pour it with olives, fritters or prawns, and let Sicily do the rest.

Cellaring

Drink now to 2027. This is best enjoyed young while the lime, melon, herbs and sea-spray freshness are bright. Store cool and dark, then serve chilled for its crispest expression.

Producer

Cantine Ermes is a Sicilian cooperative producer founded in 1998 in the Belìce Valley, an area deeply shaped by the 1968 earthquake. Today, the cooperative brings together a large community of growers across Sicily and other Italian regions, with Vento di Mare focused on organic wines shaped by sun, wind and sea influence. The name means “sea wind”, reflecting the breezes that help moderate vineyard temperatures and support healthier organic grape growing. Their Grillo captures that coastal Sicilian character beautifully: citrusy, mineral, fresh and made for the table.

Related Wines To Try →

For other bright, textural and Mediterranean-leaning organic whites, try these:

• Sicilian Fiano with citrus blossom, white peach, toasted almond and mineral length — Love Not War Organic Fiano
• Organic McLaren Vale Fiano with stonefruit, melon, nectarine and exotic spice — Angove Wild Olive Organic McLaren Vale Fiano
• Riverland Vermentino with citrus, sea spray, green herbs and bright refreshment — Delinquente Screaming Betty Vermentino

FAQ

What does Cantine Ermes Vento di Mare Grillo 2024 taste like?

It tastes like lime zest, lemongrass, coriander seed, yellow melon, tropical fruit and Mediterranean citrus. The palate is dry, fresh and mineral, with lemon, lime, herbs and a salty finish. It is crisp and lively, but not thin.

Is Vento di Mare Grillo sweet or dry?

This is a dry white wine. The yellow melon and tropical fruit give a little fruit generosity, but the finish is clean, citrusy and savoury rather than sweet. Tangy acidity keeps it refreshing.

What is Grillo similar to?

Grillo can sit somewhere between Vermentino, Pinot Grigio and a lighter Fiano. It has citrus and freshness, but also a little more Mediterranean texture and saline character. If you like dry whites with lemon, herbs and mineral snap, this is an easy grape to enjoy.

How should I serve this wine?

Serve chilled at around 7–9°C in a standard white wine glass. A good chill keeps the lime, mineral and sea-spray notes crisp. Let it warm slightly in the glass if you want more yellow melon and tropical fruit to show.

Should I decant Cantine Ermes Vento di Mare Grillo?

No decanting is needed. This is a fresh, stainless-steel white made to drink straight from the fridge. Open, pour and enjoy while the citrus and mineral line are at their brightest.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This wine contains sulphites. It is not a no-added-preservative wine. For wines made without added preservative sulphites, explore our No Added Preservative wine range.

Is Cantine Ermes Vento di Mare Grillo vegan friendly?

Vegan status is not confirmed for this wine, so it should not be marked vegan unless confirmed by the importer or producer. It is an organic Sicilian white focused on clean fruit, freshness and mineral character. For customers who specifically require vegan wines, choose a wine clearly marked vegan suitable.

What food pairs best with this Grillo?

It is excellent with seafood pasta, grilled prawns, fish tacos, lemon chicken, zucchini fritters, salads, olives, arancini and fresh cheeses. The citrus and acidity cut through richness, while the salty mineral finish suits seafood and aperitivo-style snacks. For a vegetarian match, try zucchini fritters with yoghurt, mint and lemon.

Who will love this wine?

It will suit drinkers who enjoy crisp, dry whites with a little more texture and mineral character than basic Pinot Grigio. If you like Vermentino, Fiano, dry Italian whites or unoaked citrus-driven styles, this is a lovely choice. It is also a smart option for seafood lovers.

Is this wine keto friendly?

Yes, dry white wines like this are generally a better fit for keto-conscious drinkers than sweet, off-dry or dessert wines. The wine tastes dry and crisp, with citrus and mineral freshness rather than sweetness. Suitability still depends on your own dietary goals and serving size.

(SKU: CE_Gr_CV)