Planeta

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

The grapes are harvested at the end of August when they are ripe and then dried in the fruit cellar in 5kg crates at 23⁰C. After around 40 days, when half their weight has been lost, the grapes are pressed and the resulting must, which is particularly rich in sugar, ferments slowly at 18°C for over a month in stainless steel containers, where it remains until bottling. Light golden yellow in colour, with a fine bouquet of orange blossom, some quince, apricot and peach. Sparkling on the palate with surprisingly lively acidity, spreads out beautifully, with orange peel and some grapefruit on the long final. SUPERIORE.DE

Famous, single-varietal Fiano from calcareous, clayey-sandy soils in the Contrada Dispensa near Menfi. Bright straw yellow in colour with a greenish tinge. The bouquet is complex and full of finesse: white flowers, Williams pear, ripe citrus fruit and a hint of exotic notes such as passion fruit and guava, underpinned by a salty, almost chalky nuance. Silky and broad on the palate, with polished fruit, lively acidity and a cool minerality. The texture appears creamy, but remains clearly contoured and convincingly expresses its origin. Cometa impressively demonstrates that Fiano can shine not only in Campania: Planeta moulds it into one of the most distinctive white wines in Sicily – confident, independent and stylistically unmistakable. An elegant soloist with depth and potential. SUPERIORE.DE

Santa Cecilia is Planeta's Nero d'Avola icon – born in the barren, sun-baked cultural landscape of Noto, on white limestone soils that give the variety depth, elegance and saltiness. A dense ruby red colour with a purple core in the glass. The bouquet opens with ripe black cherry, plum and mulberry, flanked by balsamic herbs, black tea, some liquorice and a fine graphite note. Powerful on the palate, but never overpowering: dense, ripe fruit meets a firm tannin structure that is well integrated and lends length. The acidity is precisely set, the finish is long and carried by a salty nuance that reflects the terroir of Contrada Buonivini. An expressive, high-class Nero d'Avola with a profile of origin, character and an ageing process that enhances rather than masks the variety. For Planeta, it has been a reference and expression of a new, confident Sicily for years. SUPERIORE.DE

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

Now in its 30th vintage, it has long been an icon of modern Sicilian viticulture: Planetas Chardonnay combines French grape variety tradition with the sun-kissed terroir of the south and produces one of Italy's most distinctive white wines year after year. The grapes come from two altitudes, Ulmo at 250 metres and Maroccoli at 415 metres above sea level. The colour in the glass is a brilliant golden yellow with light greenish reflections. The aroma is intense and refined: yellow tropical fruit, toasted almonds, citrus blossom, vanilla, wet stone and a hint of salty butter. Dense and full-bodied on the palate, with ripe fruit, a perfect balance between freshness and creaminess, fine flavour and a long, elegant finish. A cult wine that combines Mediterranean richness with Burgundian noblesse. Ideal with lobster, fried fish, poultry in a butter sauce or as a great white wine on its own. SUPERIORE.DE

This Riesling is an exceptional phenomenon: it grows on the black, barren lava soils of northern Etna at an altitude of almost 900 metres – in a microclimate that is almost alpine. The grapes come from the historic Contrada Sciaranuova, a place shaped by the massive eruption of 1614. Wines of salty tension, cool precision and a depth that is unrivalled in southern Italy are produced here. Fermentation and ageing take place exclusively in stainless steel in order to preserve freshness and pure expression of origin. Brilliant straw yellow in the glass with a silver sheen. Crystal-clear citrus notes, green apple, white peach, smoke and a fine hint of petrol on the nose – subtle, not overpowering. Vibrant and slender on the palate, with focussed acidity, mineral density and a long, almost crystalline final. Great with oysters, scallops or purist Japanese cuisine. SUPERIORE.DE

Pinot Nero from Etna has long been the dream of the Planeta family. And the experiment has been a success: Eruzione 1614 offers many positive surprises, starting with a strong varietal identity: the natural characteristics of the grape variety surpass the obvious intensity and energy of this volcanic region. It is probably one of the most Burgundian interpretations of the grape variety in Italy (alongside Alto Adige). The purity and freshness of the wine, with its many aromatic details such as cassis, wild berries, lilac and violets, is rounded off at the end by interesting notes of crushed volcanic rock. Die-hard fans of Pinot Nero will be delighted. SUPERIORE.DE

Fresh, bright ruby colour. The Syrah impresses with its intense and ripe bouquet with hints of figs, redcurrants, preserved cherries, blueberries, spices and vanilla. Velvety, elegant tannins accompany the opulent and lively structure through to the lingering final. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep ruby red with garnet-coloured reflections. Dense and intense aroma of red fruits with notes of leather, earth, spices and minerals, with a hint of vanilla and sandalwood. Full-bodied on the palate, well-defined tannins supported by a dense structure, leading to a long-lasting and very smooth final. A Bordeaux blend in a class of its own! SUPERIORE.DE

Santa Cecilia is Planeta's Nero d'Avola icon – born in the barren, sun-baked cultural landscape of Noto, on white limestone soils that give the variety depth, elegance and saltiness. A dense ruby red colour with a purple core in the glass. The bouquet opens with ripe black cherry, plum and mulberry, flanked by balsamic herbs, black tea, some liquorice and a fine graphite note. Powerful on the palate, but never overpowering: dense, ripe fruit meets a firm tannin structure that is well integrated and lends length. The acidity is precisely set, the finish is long and carried by a salty nuance that reflects the terroir of Contrada Buonivini. An expressive, high-class Nero d'Avola with a profile of origin, character and an ageing process that enhances rather than masks the variety. For Planeta, it has been a reference and expression of a new, confident Sicily for years. SUPERIORE.DE

Fresh, bright ruby colour. The Syrah impresses with its intense and ripe bouquet with hints of figs, redcurrants, preserved cherries, blueberries, spices and vanilla. Velvety, elegant tannins accompany the opulent and lively structure through to the lingering final. SUPERIORE.DE

A Sicilian Cabernet Franc that can only be produced by Planeta – inspired by the elegance of great Bordeaux, yet deeply rooted in the terroir of the Menfi Hills. Didacus is a tribute to the family, named after Diego Planeta, the visionary founder of the winery. The grapes come from carefully tended plots on chalky soils, where they develop their aromatic ripeness and structure under the Mediterranean sun and fresh winds from the nearby coast. After fermentation, the wine matured for 21 months in French barriques before being left to rest for two years in the bottle.

Didacus Chardonnay comes from the first vines planted on the shores of Lake Ulmo in 1985. It is dedicated to the founder of the winery, Diego Planeta, and represents the history of the winery as well as elegance, tradition, family and the future. It also embodies Planeta's vision of Sicilian viticulture at the highest level.

Now in its 30th vintage, it has long been an icon of modern Sicilian viticulture: Planetas Chardonnay combines French grape variety tradition with the sun-kissed terroir of the south and produces one of Italy's most distinctive white wines year after year. The grapes come from two altitudes, Ulmo at 250 metres and Maroccoli at 415 metres above sea level. The colour in the glass is a brilliant golden yellow with light greenish reflections. The aroma is intense and refined: yellow tropical fruit, toasted almonds, citrus blossom, vanilla, wet stone and a hint of salty butter. Dense and full-bodied on the palate, with ripe fruit, a perfect balance between freshness and creaminess, fine flavour and a long, elegant finish. A cult wine that combines Mediterranean richness with Burgundian noblesse. Ideal with lobster, fried fish, poultry in a butter sauce or as a great white wine on its own. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep, bright ruby red in colour. This 100% Nero d'Avola is a captivating wine with its full-bodied, fruity and spicy aroma of blackcurrants, cherries, undergrowth, liquorice and dark chocolate. The soft but firm, multi-layered and warm flavour of ripe berries, the fine spice and the fine tannins are very appealing. SUPERIORE.DE

Now in its 30th vintage, it has long been an icon of modern Sicilian viticulture: Planetas Chardonnay combines French grape variety tradition with the sun-kissed terroir of the south and produces one of Italy's most distinctive white wines year after year. The grapes come from two altitudes, Ulmo at 250 metres and Maroccoli at 415 metres above sea level. The colour in the glass is a brilliant golden yellow with light greenish reflections. The aroma is intense and refined: yellow tropical fruit, toasted almonds, citrus blossom, vanilla, wet stone and a hint of salty butter. Dense and full-bodied on the palate, with ripe fruit, a perfect balance between freshness and creaminess, fine flavour and a long, elegant finish. A cult wine that combines Mediterranean richness with Burgundian noblesse. Ideal with lobster, fried fish, poultry in a butter sauce or as a great white wine on its own. SUPERIORE.DE

Now in its 30th vintage, it has long been an icon of modern Sicilian viticulture: Planetas Chardonnay combines French grape variety tradition with the sun-kissed terroir of the south and produces one of Italy's most distinctive white wines year after year. The grapes come from two altitudes, Ulmo at 250 metres and Maroccoli at 415 metres above sea level. The colour in the glass is a brilliant golden yellow with light greenish reflections. The aroma is intense and refined: yellow tropical fruit, toasted almonds, citrus blossom, vanilla, wet stone and a hint of salty butter. Dense and full-bodied on the palate, with ripe fruit, a perfect balance between freshness and creaminess, fine flavour and a long, elegant finish. A cult wine that combines Mediterranean richness with Burgundian noblesse. Ideal with lobster, fried fish, poultry in a butter sauce or as a great white wine on its own. SUPERIORE.DE

A Sicilian Cabernet Franc that can only be produced by Planeta – inspired by the elegance of great Bordeaux, yet deeply rooted in the terroir of the Menfi Hills. Didacus is a tribute to the family, named after Diego Planeta, the visionary founder of the winery. The grapes come from carefully tended plots on chalky soils, where they develop their aromatic ripeness and structure under the Mediterranean sun and fresh winds from the nearby coast. After fermentation, the wine matured for 21 months in French barriques before being left to rest for two years in the bottle.