TERRITORY
THE VOLCANO ETNA
Etna is one of the most suitable territories for production of great wines.
Since ancient times, from the first colonization of eastern Sicily by the Greeks, there is evidence of viticulture on Etna.
Starting from 1844 the area cultivated with vineyards was about 25,000 hectares.
Towards the end of the 19th century, Catania was the Sicilian province with the most vineyards with over 90,000 hectares of vineyards.
The invasion of phylloxera in the early twentieth century caused a serious crisis in Etna viticulture.
Despite this, some rare specimens of pre-phylloxeric vineyards are still present today.
Nowadays, Etna viticulture is experiencing one of its peaks prestige, thanks also to a constant research by the producers, of qualitative criteria ever higher.
PRODUCTION AREA
The DOC Etna was born in 1968 and is among the oldest established in Sicily and in Italy.
In the DOC production regulations, the permitted black grape varieties are Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, while the white grape varieties are Carricante and Catarratto.
The production area extends from the South-West to the North side of the volcano, along a strip having the shape of an inverted "C".
The lava flows that followed one another over the millennia significantly influence the wines produced on the slopes of the volcano; a fundamental contribution also derives from exposure, altitude and climatic conditions typical of the area.
A distinctive trait of the Etna area are the "contrade", i.e. delimited geographical areas which differ, in turn, for a specific microclimate, soil composition, exposure and influence of the winds.
CONTRADA PIANO FILICI
Within the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia there are 46 districts including Contrada Piano Filici, which, inserted in a dagala between the lava flows of 1911 and 1923, enjoys an almost unique exposure.
From a landscape point of view there is a particular alternation of panoramas; we pass from dense woods, mainly downy oaks (or oaks), to ancient lava flows in which thebroom aetnensis with yellow and very fragrant flowers.
The district, in particular, takes its name from the fern that grows spontaneously and thriving in this area, preferring cool and humid places.
Finally, the ancient lava flows that surround this area give the soil a charge of minerals that make this reality particularly suited to the production of great wines.
AUTOCHTONOUS VINES
Nerello Mascalese
Carricante
Catarratto Lucido
Nerello Mascalese is the main red grape variety for the production of wines Etna DOC in the variants Red, Rosé and Sparkling wine.
The name "mascalese" derives from the fact that for centuries this variety has been cultivated in the area of Mascali (CT) on soils purely made up of volcanic sand.
In the Etna area it is grown both as a small tree and on a spurred cordon espalier.
The cultivar can be recognized immediately by its upright posture, wedge-shaped or pentagonal leaves with 3 or 5 lobes and an elongated bunch. The berries are compact together and have a thick, dark red tending to violet skin.
The wines produced with this vine are characterized by good alcohol content, excellent acidity, equilibriumand tannins.
We are able to make the most of it with a long maceration on the skins, extracting as many anthocyanins as possible.
We believe that Nerello Mascalese is able to give its best with long refinements: it needs its time to express itself in its total complexity
Carricante is the main white grape variety for the production of Etna DOC White.
It is one of the oldest white grape varieties grown on Etna and above all at high altitudes.
The name comes from the Sicilian expression “u carricante”, indicating the abundant production of its plants, capable of filling the wagons with grapes.
Traditionally it is cultivated as sapling in the areas of eastern Etna, where it also has an exposure to the sea.
The temperature variations between day and night, the volcanic soil and the cool climate allow the aromatic and polyphenolic components of the grapes to enrich themselves.
The Carricante has a medium-sized leaf and a cylindrical or conical bunch, the berries are medium-sized with a yellow-green skin.
The wines produced with this vine are characterized by a excellent acidity, sapidity, and one good aromatic persistence.
Among the aromas, citrus fruits, jasmine and Etna broom stand out
Catarratto is one of the oldest white grape varieties in Sicily as well as more character and strong personality.
Point of view morphological and botanical il Catarratto Lucido has characteristics similar to those of the common Catarratto but differs in its delicacy and freshness.
The leaves are wedge-shaped or pentagonal with 5 lobes, the bunch has compact, elongated and conical, single or double-winged berries.
The adjective "shiny" derives from the absence of bloom on the berries, for which the bunch is brilliant, shiny as well as velvety.
The vines are traditionally planted with saplings, with a few bunches per plant, in order to obtain grapes with a good aromatic concentration.
We believe that the Catarratto Lucido is not a secondary vine but that accompanied, in the right proportions to the Carricante, it manages to attributeeleganceand adecisive characterto the winesEtna DOC White.
Hints of tropical fruit, honey and almonds are the aromas we find in the wines produced with this vine