ETNA TERROIR
On the slopes of the tallest active Volcano in Europe man have dug their terraces sustained by lava stone walls finding in the local varieties Nerello Mascalese and Carricante. the highest expression of this terroir.
With great temperature excursions between day and night ( avg 16 degree) a volcanic soil renovated frequently by mother Etna kissed by the sun of Sicily and caressed by the sea breeze all is set for great grapes that need little or no intervention.
Etna's vineyards have historically been classified into Contrada's (CRU) each representing different lava stratification micro and meso-climate and a distinctive taste profile.
The result is wines that have the austerity of the mountain and the sapidity of the sea and a great ability to age.
ETNELLA OWNS OR RUNS 12 VINEYARDS AND PRODUCES 13 WINES
Farming 13 different vineyards in 13 different "Contrade" we actually make 13 natural wines and 4 single contrada (CRU) wines.
Altitudes ranging from 500mt to 1000mt above sea level(.see infographics below showing the geographical location of our vineyards and the relative cru wines associated.)
8 Ha of vineyards from the eastern Milo passing to the north eastern Presa(also home to the eco-agriturismo) and Linguaglossa all the way top the north in Solicchiata, Passopisciaro and Randazzo.
Contrada Saette (Mascali) North East of Etna : small alberello terraces of Nerello Mascalese 500mt above sea level. Poor lavic land exposed to sea breeze
Contrada Galfina (Linguaglossa) North East of Etna: small alberello terraces of Nerello Mascalese prephylloxera Grenache Syrah 620mt to 800mt above sea level. Incredible biodiversity and complexity
Contrada Montedolce (Solicchiata) North of Etna: alberello and cordon from 40 to 80yrs old Nerello Mascalese and Grenache 1000 mt above sea level great austerity given by altitude
Contrada Settesalme (Passopiscairo) North of Etna: alberello and cordon 4 yrs old Carricante grillo Moscato Catarratto 650mt above sea level
Mixed argilla and lavic soil
Contrada Santo Spirito (Passopisciaro) North of Etna: alberello and cordon from 12 to 80yrs old Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio 780 mt above sea level vineyard planted on 15 cm of lava rocks
Contrada Savina and Montedolce (Randazzo) North of Etna: cordon 40yrs old Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio 750 mt above sea level
Great terroir of deep land
Contrada Donnabianca (Randazzo) North of Etna: cordon 40yrs old Carricante 800 mt above sea level
Vineyard in Presa Contrada Saette
Vineyard in Contrada Settesalme Passopisciaro
Contrada Saette Presa
Vineyard in Presa Contrada Saette
The resulting wines are a panoply of various expressions of Etna’s terroir.
The majority of the vineyards are trained in alberello style, or bush trained, an ancient method traditionally used on Etna and initially brought by the greeks and perfectioned by the Romans.
The vines are planted on land that is terraced with dry-stone walls constructed with the local volcanic stones so omnipresent on Etna’s slopes. The close proximity of the vines (6,000 - 9,000 plants per hectare) creates firce competition and forces the roots to point downward in the volcanic soil in search of water and nutrients.
We are custodians of vineyards whose first official documents date as far as 1918.
with such a bounty of god's given harmony we deal with wine making in a non interventionist style creating wines of great phenolic profile, complexity, and longevity.
In the vineyards we use only a Bordeaux mixture (copper sulphate) in omeopathic doses , and all fermentations are spontaneous, using only indigenous yeast colonies.
In addition to wine growing, we farm numerous varieties of olives and fruit that are indigenous to Etna.
We produce extra virgin olive oil, cider and many diffrent types of high quality jams.
We have a total of 19 hectares of land: the vineyards, the winery, the cellar, and a traditional styled agriturismo made from volcanic stone. Shop wines