Salina is one of the Y-shaped group of Unesco-protected volcanic islands that rise out of the azure-coloured waters off the north-east coast of Sicily. It is one of the mystical sounding Aeolian Islands, the name conjuring up images of Odysseus and his sojourns in the land of the Sirens, a region so beautiful and alluring that he almost forgot to return home.<\/p>\n
The Aeolian archipelago consists of eight islands: Salina, an island with a history of salt production, hence the name; Vulcano, nearest to Sicily; Lipari, the largest of these islands with the biggest population of all-year residents; Stromboli, immortalised in the eponymous film with Ingrid Bergman; Panarea, which attracts celebrities in search of seclusion and exclusivity; Filicudi, Alicudi and Basiluzzo.<\/p>\n
Capofaro, literally \u2018head lighthouse\u2019 is Tasca D\u2019Almerita\u2019s super-luxury hotel on the island of Salina Every year in July for the last 6 years or so they have held a Malvasia weekend to celebrate the virtues of the local grape variety. Although Tasca produce their own range of wines on the island, including their own stylish dry Malvasia, they also encourage all the other local producers to get involved. Although at first Tasca might have been viewed with suspicion by the locals as outsiders coming in and stealing their thunder, collaborations like this have helped dramatically to make the other producers realise that Tasca\u2019s efforts benefit them all.<\/p>\n\n\t\t