LE SABBIE DELL'ETNA — ETNA ROSSO DOC

The Spanish viceroyalty of Sicily coincided with the ascent of Charles V to the Spanish throne in 1516, and he is believed to be responsible for the spread of Nerello Mascalese. Together with Niccolò Caracciolo, Bishop of Catania, he decided to transform Piana di Mascali into a County, and one of his first measures was to make the lands belonging to the Curia available to vine growers. Nerello vineyards thus began to spread throughout the Etna region, and today, thanks to their organoleptic properties and aging potential, they are the emblem of winemaking practiced on the slopes of Etna.

This Etna Rosso from Firriato is made with Nerello Mascalese grapes and, in a smaller percentage, Nerello Cappuccio, grown in sandy volcanic soils on the northern slopes of Etna, at approximately 700 meters above sea level. The high altitude and significant temperature variations between day and night allow the grapes to best concentrate and preserve all the aromatic compounds typical of this grape variety.

Tasting notes:

«Red and black fruit, with a persistent touch of dried, ashy minerals, as expected from grapes grown on the slopes of a volcano. Medium-bodied, with a savory flavor profile and fine tannins that perfectly harmonize with the persistent minerality on the finish. A true Etna wine. To drink now or cellar.» (James Suckling, August 2022, Le Sabbie dell'Etna — Etna Rosso DOC Firriato 2019 — 93 points.)

Food pairing: a clear and precise interpretation of the exclusive Etna terroir, to accompany red meats, steak tartare, and wild vegetables or aged cheeses.

Origin: northern slope of Etna, Castiglione di Sicilia, Catania (Sicily)

Soil type: volcanic

Altitude: 590 to 750m a.s.l

Grape varieties: 90% Nerello Mascalese 10% Nerello Cappuccio

Vintage: 2021

Vinification: the grapes are harvested manually between the second and third week of October and processed according to traditional red wine vinification methods in stainless steel tanks. The wine then ages for 12 months in Slavonian oak barrels.

Alcohol content: 13.5%

Serving temperature: 16° to 18°C

Awards and distinctions:

James Suckling: 93 points (2019 vintage) and 92 points (2016 and 2021 vintages)

WinesCritic: 92 points (2021 vintage)

Veronelli: Tre stelle (2019 vintage)

Wine Spectator: 89 points (2018 vintage)

Vinous: +90 (2015 vintage)