CAN you tell the difference between Grillo IGT and Bianco di Ornella?

Or a Cataratto & Inzolia IGT from your Nero d’Avola IGT?

Thought not!

But neither could 20 or so amateur wine enthusiasts who gathered at Fabio Italian restaurant in Swindon’s Old Town on a Tuesday night for a Sicilian wine-tasting session.

But they had great fun attempting to tell the difference.

Experts were on hand to advise on the complexities of body, acidity, balance... and, oh, yes, something called ‘tannins’.

All wines were accompanied by tasty Sicilian dishes made from from sardines, mussels and prawns to chicken roulades and pork scaloppini.

The evening was the brainchild of restauratuer Gianni Pau and wine supremos Mimmo Tola, Antonello Napoli and Paolo Cianci.

The Tola family has been creating distinctive blends of wine at a string of vineyards in Sicily for more than three generations.

The wines are made from selected grapes, and conserved in 225 litre barrels.

They are passionate about their produce, and are hoping to convert the palates of Swindon people too.

Tola wines and Sicilian foods are on sale from their premises in Stratton St Margaret.

And, if you missed Tuesday night at the Bath Road restaurant, another soiree is planned soon featuring a series of wines to complement cheeses... Italian of course. For more information call 01793 615306 or 01793 834494.

Alternatively, email info@ vino-italiano.co.uk