Grillo is a Sicilian white grape variety most famous for its role in fortified Marsala wines. It is still widely planted on the island despite Marsala’s fall from fashion and is now used most commonly in a variety of still white wines, both varietal and blended.
There is some debate as to the origins of Grillo, as its earliest mention comes as recently as the mid-19th Century. Some believe that the variety is native to Sicily, suggesting it is the progeny of Catarratto and Muscat of Alexandria.