Etna Wines

This single-varietal Carricante comes from Tenuta Tascante, from the Contrade Feudo in Castiglione di Sicilia and Salice in Milo. The vineyards thrive at an altitude of 600 metres on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, on volcanic sedimentary soils dating from various geological periods. The majority of the grapes are grown on a terrace in the Contrada Sciaranuova. Vinified in cool stainless steel, this white wine retains the mineral clarity and sulphurous notes of the indigenous grape variety. Linear and vertical in character, it displays the characteristic acidity of Carricante, which reveals volcanic vigour with elegant purity. An authentic Etna character, aged on the lees for four months, which brings the aura of the volcano straight into the glass. SUPERIORE.DE

The eruption of 1614 is legendary in the history of Etna, as it lasted ten years, making it the longest recorded eruption of the active volcano to date. A very impressive and fitting name for Planeta's Etna series of equally impressive wines. It could hardly be more autochthonous: this excellent wine from the Nerello Mascalese grape comes from the hotspot on the east coast of Sicily, from the slopes of Mount Etna. Bright cherry red in colour, a fine aroma of raspberry and blood orange, gripping, taut acidity, silky tannins and a lively elegance with beautiful minerality. Great, long and unique! SUPERIORE.DE

Alberto Graci worked as an investment banker in Milan until the death of his grandfather – who made his own wine in central Sicily – led him back to the island in 2004. His first vineyard was on the northern slope of Mount Etna, in Passopisciaro, where he subsequently devoted himself exclusively to the volcano's indigenous grape varieties. The grapes for his Etna Bianco grow at 600 metres above sea level, on dark brown, volcanic soil that is well-drained and rich in iron. Carricante and Catarratto are gently pressed and fermented in concrete tanks without contact with the skins, then aged for eight months on the fine lees, entirely without oak. The yield is deliberately kept low at around 40 hectolitres per hectare.

In the early 2000s, Marco de Grazia, an American wine merchant with Tuscan roots, began systematically buying land on Mount Etna. Not because the volcano was the talk of the town at the time – it wasn't. But because de Grazia, who had been importing Sicilian wines into the US since the 1990s, recognised something that many locals had not yet seen: that these soils, these Alberello vines, these altitudes between 600 and 900 metres possessed something that could not be found anywhere else on the island.

The Sul Vulcano range marked the start of Donnafugata's impressive declaration of love for Etna, currently the hottest wine destination. Carricante is one of southern Italy's most exciting grape varieties, capable of developing complexity and terroir-driven character when grown on the right soils. The vines for Donnafugata's only white wine from Etna grow on mineral-rich volcanic soils at an altitude of 700–750 metres. The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks before ageing for 10 months – partly in concrete tanks and partly in second- and third-use barriques – followed by a further nine months in the bottle.

Cottanera's Etna Bianco draws its expressiveness and a certain depth from Carricante grapes, which thrive at an altitude of around 750 metres in the barren, dark volcanic soils on the north side of the volcano. The interplay of high altitude, cool climate and mineral subsoil characterises the tension and freshness of this charismatic white wine. Straw yellow in colour with a silvery sheen. White flowers meet yellow citrus fruits, crisp pears and a hint of wet stone on the nose. Clear and straightforward on the palate with lively acidity, a fine texture and salty minerality that reflects the Etna terroir. A refreshingly purist Etna Bianco that harmoniously combines finesse and depth – ideal with oysters, ceviche or simply as a meditative soloist. SUPERIORE.DE

An island within an island. That is how Giuseppe Benanti described Mount Etna, that world unto itself which he pioneered in 1988 as a trailblazer in modern Etna wines. Today, his sons Antonio and Salvino carry on his legacy: they are the only winery with vineyards on all four slopes of the volcano. The Etna Bianco is made from 100% Carricante from the eastern and southern slopes, where altitudes of between 700 and 950 metres, volcanic sandy soils and marked day-night temperature variations create ideal conditions. The vines, aged between 20 and 60 years, are trained partly using the traditional Alberello method and partly on trellises. Hand-harvested in mid-October, gently pressed, then fermented for twelve days at 18 °C in stainless steel using the estate's own Carricante yeast, selected from Etna vineyards. The wine is then aged on the fine lees and undergoes a short period of bottle ageing.

Classic Etna Rosso from Nerello Mascalese with a small proportion of Nerello Cappuccio – grown at an altitude of over 700 metres in various contrade on the northern flank of the volcano, where ash, lava rock and the alpine microclimate form an unmistakable style. Medium ruby red in colour with a garnet-red rim. On the nose, fragrant sour cherry, redcurrant, humming berry, a metallic hint, floral notes and subtle spice. Precise on the palate, with cool fruit, lively acidity and fine-grained tannins. The ageing in used wooden barrels and cement tanks maintains the balance and expression of origin. An authentic, elegant Etna Rosso with good drinkability. SUPERIORE.DE

Marc de Grazia made Etna history when he rediscovered the forgotten volcanic slopes over two decades ago. His Etna Rosso – the estate's 'calling card' – now blends grapes from various vineyards at altitudes between 600 and 900 metres, where Nerello Mascalese grows on ancient volcanic soils. The vines are situated on the cool northern slopes of Mount Etna, surrounded by black pumice and lava rock – a terroir that lends every sip its unmistakable mineral character.

Before purchasing his first plot of land on Mount Etna in 2004, Alberto Graci worked as an investment banker in Milan – a life he left behind following the death of his grandfather, who made wine in central Sicily. Since then, his work has been entirely devoted to the volcano's indigenous grape varieties, foremost among them Nerello Mascalese. The grapes come from the Contrada Feudo di Mezzo, situated at an altitude of between 600 and 700 metres on dark brown volcanic soil, rich in iron and well-drained. After ten days' maceration in vertical wooden vats, the wine matures for 18 months in large wooden barrels and concrete tanks, undergoing spontaneous malolactic fermentation.

Solicchiata lies on the northern slope of Mount Etna, where the volcano still bestows everything upon its soils – minerality, warmth, vitality – without imposing the intense ripeness of the southern flank. The Faro family founded Pietradolce here in 2005, on 35 hectares at altitudes between 600 and 900 metres. Their philosophy: exclusively indigenous grape varieties, separate vinification of individual plots, and as little intervention as possible. The Etna Bianco is the gateway to this world – and at the same time an unmistakable statement of intent. 100% Carricante, Alberello, 800 metres above sea level. Sandy, volcanic soils, rich in minerals. Hand-harvested in the second half of October, when the long, cool nights on the north-facing slope have given the acidity its final polish. Gentle pressing, aged exclusively in steel.

The Nerello Mascalese vines used for this exceptional rosé grow on the northern slopes of Mount Etna at an altitude of over 600 metres – barren, stony soils of pure lava rock characterise the microclimate and give the wine its distinct character. The wine is aged exclusively in stainless steel to emphasise its freshness, purity of flavour and expression of the terroir. In the glass, it is a delicate pink with a coppery sheen. The bouquet is elegant and understated: wild strawberry, pink grapefruit, a hint of blood orange and a touch of fennel. On the palate, it is lively, with juicy fruit, invigorating acidity and mineral tension. The cool finish is dry, precise and surprisingly long. An Etna Rosato with alpine freshness and a Mediterranean soul – perfect for warm evenings, grilled fish or a classic insalata di mare. SUPERIORE.DE

Solicchiata, northern slope of Mount Etna, 800 metres. The Faro family has dug deep into the volcano here since 2005 – literally, because the sandy soils of weathered lava rock allow roots to travel far. 100% Nerello Mascalese, Alberello, vines between 50 and 65 years old. Hand-picked, two weeks of maceration, three months in fine-grained oak barrels. Not a wood wine – a classic red volcanic wine.

A sparkling wine from the volcano – made from 100% Carricante and produced using the traditional bottle fermentation method, this Metodo Classico is an expression of the cool elegance of Etna. The grapes come from high-altitude, mineral-rich vineyards on the northern slopes of the volcano. After gentle pressing and vinification in stainless steel, the base wine matures on the lees for around 20 months before disgorgement. Pale straw yellow in the glass with a fine, continuous perlage. The bouquet is fragrant and precise, with notes of lime, white peach, brioche, crushed rock and a hint of aniseed. Clear, taut and cool on the palate, with lively acidity, a creamy texture and a fine, salty-mineral length that emphasises its volcanic origins. An enthralling spumante with character, far removed from broadness or trendy sweetness – ideal as an aperitif, with oysters, raw fish or fine Mediterranean cuisine. This Carricante proves that sparkling wine from the slopes of Mount Etna is not only possible, but fascinating. SUPERIORE.DE

Buried in the volcanic sandy soils of Passopisciaro lies a story that runs deeper than the roots of the centuries-old Nerello vines. À Rina – "sand" in the Sicilian dialect – bears not only the name of this unique soil, but also the longing of a son who wished to honour his father's memory. When Giuseppe Russo founded the winery in 2005 and dedicated it to Girolamo, he did so with the painful realisation: "My father was not fortunate enough to witness this transformation and see his name on a wine." What followed was no ordinary wine story, but the metamorphosis of a pianist into a poet of the volcano. Giuseppe, who once studied Liters, returned to the vineyards of his childhood – not out of a sense of duty, but from a deep realisation: These ancient Alberello vines, growing at altitudes between 650 and 780 metres, carry the memory of his family. Here, where black lava scoria and sand compose a symphony of minerality, he understood his true calling.

The four wines resulting from the collaboration between Dolce & Gabbana and Donnafugata show attention to detail and unconditional love for Sicily. They are the perfect expression of two top companies "Made in Italy". They represent the aesthetic fusion of craftsmanship, creativity and Sicilian passion. Together, they have created a unique collection of wines and packaging that emotionally capture Sicilian culture and lifestyle and express a clear commitment to the beauty and tradition of Sicily.

Until 2012, this wine bore the name of the estate itself – passopisciaro. However, when Andrea Franchetti began to vinify his best individual vineyards separately in 2008, he renamed the basic Etna Rosso: Passorosso. A blend from different altitudes and contrade – from Malpasso to Guardiola and Santo Spirito –which shows the full range of what Nerello Mascalese can achieve on Mount Etna. The higher vineyards lie on coarse-grained lava gravel, the lower ones on finer, oxidised lava powder: each layer contributes to the complexity of this wine. 80 to 110-year-old vines, fermented in steel tanks, matured for 18 months in large neutral wooden barrels and concrete tanks, bottled unfiltered.

Pure Syrah from the volcano? This is not a matter of course, but a courageous commitment to the international grape variety, embedded in the alpine character of the northern slope of Etna. Sole di Sesta refers to the midday sun that hits the vines with full force in the terraced vineyards around Castiglione di Sicilia – flanked by cold downdraughts from Mount Etna, which balance out the day at night. The vines are rooted at 750 metres above sea level in sandy volcanic soil with a high stone content. The result is a Syrah that brings together the special origin and the international variety in an exciting balance.

Calderara is a wine with 100% volcanic DNA. Born on one of the most prestigious single vineyards (Contrada) of northern Etna. The site is located at an altitude of around 750 metres near Randazzo, where barren, dark soils of lava rock and basalt are weathered and large porous stones flank the rows of vines. The name is derived from "caldera" – a heat-accumulating rock structure that stores heat during the day and releases it again at night. It is this interplay of volcanic power and cool mountain climate that gives Calderara its incredible precision and depth.

The organically grown Etna Rosso Reseca is made from 100% Nerello Mascalese from a 1.5 hectare vineyard located at 800 metres above sea level on the blackened cone of the volcano. The wine offers both power and grace, the two contrasting qualities that characterise the great wines of Etna.

Grenache is an unusual sight on Mount Etna. Yet on the volcano's southern slope – the hottest and driest part of the entire mountain – this Mediterranean grape variety finds conditions that it would lack on the cooler northern flank. Idda, the joint project of Gaia Gaja and Alberto Graci, makes the most of this unique feature for its Rosato: Nerello Mascalese and Grenache are fermented together, supplemented by a small proportion of Carricante, the estate's flagship white variety. This co-fermentation – red and white grapes together in the tank – is a deliberate stylistic choice. It gives the Rosato the freshness of the white variety and the structure of the reds, without either component dominating. The vines grow on dark, mineral-rich volcanic soils, in an area that Idda has described since its foundation as the "controversial side" of Mount Etna – away from the better-known vineyards.

High up on the southern slopes of Mount Etna, where the Contrada Manzuedda in Biancavilla rises towards the sky at an altitude of 900 metres, lies an extraordinary vineyard, as old as the dreams that gave rise to it. Here, between the eternal snow of the peaks and the flames of the volcano, where the first Carricante vines took root in the volcanic soil in 1950, A' Puddara, "the hen", is born. This is what the Sicilians call the Pleiades in their dialect – those seven sisters in the night sky who, in summer, shine from the sea above the volcanic peak. Silvia Maestrelli, Fessina's visionary pioneer who sadly passed away far too soon, dedicated this wine to the starry skies of her Sicilian nights – a fitting tribute to this island of dreams and fire.