Blues and Wine: American Soul and Sicilian Wine—Winter Magic in Sicily



Buon Anno! Welcome back and a very happy New Year to you!  I hope your holidays were filled with great company and great food!

My  kitchen, in particular this year, was graced by very special chefs, among which, my husband, my mother, and my talented sons and step children, who participated with me in creating many Sicilian delicacies--recipes which I have photographed and will share.

But first I'd like to begin the new year by telling you about an event unlike anything you’ve ever seen, taking place in my home town of Marsala and in Siracusa, this Friday January 20 - 23.  The  Blues and Wine Soul Festival, created  by musician Joe Castellano, has been an annual summer festival since its founding in 2003, and brings American blues, soul and gospel music to Sicily while promoting its wine industry.  

Joe Castellano has brought together  an 18 piece band composed of legendary musicians  who hail from bands such as Earth Wind and Fire, Ray Charles, Carlos Santana, The Blues Brothers, Tom Jones, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Tower of Power, Tito Puentes, Neville Brothers, The Allman Brothers, and many more.  (

Temple of Concordia, Agrigento

I stumbled upon this festival while visiting Agrigento with my sons in 2004.   That year the event was promoted as  E’ Tempio Dei Blues,” a play on the Italian word “tempo” meaning time and “tempio” meaning temple. Held among the Greek ruins of   Agrigento, the festival unfolded against a backdrop of breathtaking scenery and the velvety cobalt skies of our Sicilian summer nights.

An event at the Greek Theater, Siracusa

This year’s 3-day festival is an unprecedented “special winter edition” that promises to engulf the senses.  Fabulous music, paired with excellent wines from some of Sicily’s most noted and historic wineries will be featured, along with extraordinary regional foods. Participants can sample wines at night while listening to some seriously inspired music and attend workshops on wine tasting and wine making during the day as well as enjoy the local sights.

This event has been so successful that it is being officially adopted by Sicily’s  Assessorato Regionale al Turismo e allo Spettacolo, the commission responsible for the promotion of events and tourism in Sicily, as a destination point for Sicilian tourism.  http://www.joecastellanobluesband.com   

Should your travels bring you to Sicily, be sure to bookmark this event.

Ciao a presto!