Sicily Wine

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 91 Points | A juicy red that has notes of warm spices, orange rind and black fruit on the nose. It’s medium-bodied and deliciously fruity, with medium tannins and a bright finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | A youthful ruby/magenta color, the 2023 Nero d'Avola Alto Reale is a softer style of Nero d'Avola, raised in a combination of stainless steel and oak barrels. It reveals notes of ripe cherries, pine, sage, and fresh crushed flowers. Often, I feel like Nero leans toward oxidation, but they do a nice job of keeping the freshness. Medium-bodied, it’s light on its feet, with fine tannins, clean lift, and a finessed, easygoing finish.

Winemaker Description

Nero d’Avola gives this wine a red passion color, hints of ripe fruit and an intense and harmonious taste. Immediate and direct but not trivial, it differs in the altitude at which its grapes are grown, which allows for a fresher wine, with delicate tannins and easy to drink style.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Vinous by Eric Guido writes 90 Points | The 2022 Etna Rosso wafts up with a perfumed blend of rosy florals and hints of juniper berry. This is vividly fruit-focused, with a wave of ripe wild berries and sweet spices that flow across a stream of brisk acidity. It leaves a staining of primary concentration and mildly grippy tannins to resonate as violet inner florals slowly fade. While more extroverted than expected, the 2022 is a total pleasure to taste and maintains fantastic balance. 

Winemaker Notes

Benanti Etna Rosso is pale ruby red in color. The bouquet is ethereal and intense, with spicy red fruit aromas. Well balanced and medium-bodied, with a mineral-rich complexity, pleasant acidity and a saline freshness on the long and lively finish.

A versatile wine that can be paired with red meats and cheeses but also with fish or white meats. Very suitable for by-the-glass consumption.

Bright, fresh, and organically made, this Sicilian rosé bursts with notes of wild strawberry and citrus. Light-bodied and easy-drinking—perfect for picnics, beach days, or aperitivo hour.

Winemaker Description 

A perennial favorite from Southern Sicily, the Purato rosato is dry, bright, energetic and versatile. While it is delicious on its own, you really should try it with your next plate of charcuterie or alongside toasted bread with fresh ricotta, rosemary and olive oil. It just so also happens to be both Organic and Vegan!

Purato Rosé is a Sicilian wine made with the Nero d’Avola grape, and the winery is exceptionally environmentally friendly. This wine is not only organically farmed, but its production is also carbon-neutral and vegan-friendly, and it is packaged exclusively in recycled and recyclable materials. On the nose, it is surprisingly complex for an everyday rosé: notes of fruit, wet sand, sea breeze, but also orange honey and some spices. It’s fresh, simple and pleasant.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | Made from organically grown grapes and vegan friendly, this dark, juicy, easy drinking Nero d’Avola is uncomplicated, packed with flavor, and irresistibly delicious. Plump and round in the mouth with blackberry, plum and raspberry fruit at its core with silky tannins and a velvety rich texture. An affordable indulgence for any meal, this is an ideal partner to pasta in tomato sauce and hearty pizza.

Winemaker Description

Deep purple red color. The nose reveals intense fruity notes of blackberry and blueberry compote, together with smoky and spicy notes. On the palate it is extraordinarily round and complete, with a natural and effortless balance of tannin and acidity, structure and length.

Purato’s environmental commitment extends into the winery. Purato uses eco-friendly packaging, made from recycled paper, pure vegetable ink on the labels and 85% recycled glass for the bottle.

Our Professional Review

Debra of 67Wine.com | Cantine Colosi's Grillo is certified vegan and shows fresh floral aromas , stone fruits and  herbs.  This Southern Italian white is bright, with lively acidity, orange zest, grapefruit, white peaches and savoriness on the palate.  

Wonderfully balanced offering a generous crisp, refreshing finish. Pair with lemon pasta and cream sauce,  chicken,  seafood and goat cheese.  Debra, Italy White Wine Buyer.

Winemaker Description 

The color is a pale straw yellow. The bouquet on the nose is intense and rich with hints of golden apple followed by sensations of tropical fruit. Sapid, clean, and well balanced sip. 

Grillo is an indigenous Sicilian white grape variety once used as the base for the best Marsala. Originally it produced potent, full-bodied base wines that were supplemented by other varietals such as Inzolia and Catarratto. Sicilian producers have since resurrected their Grillo vineyards and are now producing Grillo as its own wonderfully fresh and clean varietal.

Perfect with fish, seafood and delicate cheeses.

Our Notes

"One of my favorite great value reds! Velvety textured with delicious flavors of blackberry, plum and strawberry with savory spice and aromatic herbs. Medium to full bodied with supple tannins that provide lift and structure.  Great for pizza, pasta and any midweek excursion."
Bart Hopkins

Winery Notes

Intense, dark ruby red. On the nose, notes of black fruit, strawberries, flowers and herbs. Dry and full-bodied on the palate.

Our Professional Review

Debra of 67Wine.com | A thrill seeking wine from the volcanic region in Southern Italy, Mt. Etna, Benanti showcases this 100% Carricante at it's best.  Complexity on the nose with aromas and flavors of grapefruit, saline, fresh acidity with lots of minerality. A pure varietal expression,  this wine is full of life, vibrant, energetic and a lingering finish. 

Pair with ricotta cheese drizzled with orange and/or lemon rind, grilled swordfish, tuna, cheeses, and lemon pasta dishes.

Memo Summary Notes

The Benanti Etna Bianco 2024 is a hallmark expression of volcanic white wine from Sicily. Produced by one of the pioneering families of the Mount Etna region, this wine is celebrated for its sharp minerality and high-altitude freshness.

Palate: The "volcanic" character is front and center. It is bone-dry and lean, driven by a stony minerality and a distinct saline (salty) edge. The acidity is crisp, leading to a long, clean finish that mimics the feeling of biting into a tart orchard fruit.

Our Professional Review

Debra of 67Wine.com | This Sicilian white is light, clean , and offers stone fruit flavors of peach,  citrus and a subtle tropical fruit note.  This wine is made with organic grapes and it is also vegan. Purely enjoyable, harmonious, light bodied with freshness making it a perfect wine for every day drinking.

Enjoy with cheese from 67Gourmet, light seafood dishes, salads or as an aperitif.

Winemaker Description 

Straw yellow color. The bouquet on the nose shows aromas of citrus, tropical fruits and floral notes. On the palate it is fresh and enjoyable; balanced for everyday drinking.

This wine is made with certified organic grapes. No artificial fertilizers or pesticides are used in the vineyards. Purato’s environmental commitment extends into the winery. Purato uses eco-friendly packaging, made from recycled paper, pure vegetable ink on the labels and 85% recycled glass for the bottle.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

James Suckling 89 Points | This has a bright, citrusy nose, with hints of sour cherries and dried flowers. Vivid and fruity, with medium body and juicy acidity, finishing bright and zesty. A little one-dimensional, yet pleasant and attractive. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Sustainable. 

Winemaker Description

“Rina Russa” means “red sand” in Sicilian dialect. Rina Russa genuinely has its own unique style, as the Frappato grapes come from ancient clones developed on our own estate. It has a very beautiful light cherry color, with a fresh and vibrant bouquet, reminiscent of wild strawberries and a beautifully balanced palate, with silky smooth fruit, a real freshness running through it and a surprisingly long finish. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 91 Points | A delicious, round and silky white with aromas of fresh lemons, white peaches and warm spices on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Supple, with a mineral undertone at the center and a succulent finish.

Winemaker Description 

Insolia grapes are manually selected in the Nordic microclimate of Ficuzza, Cusumano's largest vineyard, located in Northern Sicily. Light straw color with soft aromas of freshly-picked flowers and herbs. This Insolia opens the palate with refreshing flavors of apples and pears. Hints of citrus zest lingers throughout for a harmonious balance.

Pairs with lighter dishes such as salads or seafood.

Memo Summary Notes

The Cusumano Insolia 2023 is a refreshing, light-bodied Sicilian white wine that offers fantastic value. Grown in the high-altitude Ficuzza vineyard in northern Sicily, it’s known for its crisp acidity and Mediterranean flair, often serving as a great alternative to Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.

Pair with seafood appetizers, sushi, grilled branzino, or pasta with clams.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The Alta Mora 2023 Etna Bianco is 100% Carricante that is aged in stainless steel on the fine lees for 10 months. The fruit used here represents an informal blend from the Contrade Arrigo, Verzelle and Piano dei Daini. This wine shows a golden straw color with medium texture and a little extra heft from a hot vintage that you feel over the palate. It offers waxy aromas of sweet peach and poached pear. There is more richness here compared to your standard Etna Bianco.

Winemaker Description

70% Frappato/30% Nero d'Avola. From organically and Biodynamically farmed estate vines, averaging 20+ years old and planted on chalky, sandy soils. The bunches are harvested by hand, destemmed and co-fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in concrete tanks. Maceration lasts approximately two weeks. The wine is aged in concrete tanks for 6 months and bottled unfiltered. Sulfur use is modest. "SP68" is the Strada Provinciale 68, the country road on which the Occhipinti winery and home vineyard lie.

SP68 is a road but also a young wine. Fresh and pleasant, with a delicate taste that brings with it the taste of the sun and the freshness of this land. Juicy flavors of strawberry, raspberry and wild herbs complimented by refreshing acidity and soft tannins.

Winemaker Description

Giusto Occhipinti of COS is a benchmark producer in the Vittoria appellation of Sicily, and certainly one of the most important, influential, producers in all of Sicily if not Italy as a whole. The winery was founded in 1980 by three friends, Giambattista Cilia, Giusto Occhipinti, and Cirino Strano. The initials of their last names form the winery’s name.

For Giusto, “the vineyard is like our life’s savings in the bank, so we must protect it.” Protecting it means that they work organically and biodynamically to support the health of the soil. They have never used any synthetic or chemical additives in the vineyard since the outset in 1980. Officially, the winery was an early practitioner of Biodynamic viticulture starting in 2000 and was certified organic as of 2007. The climate of Vittoria is also generally warm and dry making it well-adapted to organic & biodynamic viticulture. Giusto and his vineyard team also prepare many of the Biodynamic treatments in-house, though a few are purchased elsewhere from small, reputable sources for these important products.

Throughout the entire range, there is a focus on elegance and purity, especially the joyous, floral Frappato – Sicily’s answer to Cru Beaujolais.

The bright red fruit flavors of cherry and strawberry are vibrant and aromatic with low tannins and fresh acidity.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer: For centuries, Sicily has been a crossroad of cultures, languages, and religions. With a multitude of cultural exchange, many things came from distant places, grape varieties included. The Syrah grape had its origins in Persia and Mesopotamia and migrated across Europe finding its way to Sicily. The hot sunny climate is a perfect home for this intrepid grape variety and is conducive to natural organic farming.

Tenuta Rapitala Nadir Syrah is rich and well endowed with layers of black fruits and earthy spice. Full bodied and robustly structured with savory complexity and a chewy texture. Abundant and robust in the mouth, with supple tannins providing good grip on the finish, this is a perfect wine for foods of substance, such as pizza, pasta, grilled or roasted meats and hearty vegetable dishes.

Winery Description 

Intense ruby-red color with damask-violet tints. Generous bouquet with touches of ripe fruit and the typical spices of this grape variety, with attractive hints of vanilla. The flavor is full and delicate, with soft and elegant tannins. A balanced marriage between the depth of this product and the uniqueness of this exceptional terroir.

Our Professional Review

Bart of 67Wine.com writes | Pale ruby red in color with an intriguing bouquet of wild blackberries, Asian spice, wild flowers and crushed rocks. In the mouth, the palate is soft and round with layered complexity of dark fruits and detailed minerality. This is a great example of why the wines of Etna are all the rage! A delicious rendition!
Bart Hopkins.

Winemaker Description

Fessina Erse Etna Rosso is a light ruby color. Wild berries, coriander, cloves, pimento, pink pepper. Tasting of austere and soft tannins. Round and spicy, Erse tells an old story about Etna winemaking, where for hundred years the red grapes have been mixed with the white ones, a marriage between indigenous varieties. A picture of our melting pot vineyard where tastes and roots are melted together, giving a feminine complexity.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2022 

Vinous 90 Points | The 2022 Etna Rosso Erse opens with a burst of autumnal spice, dusty rose and crushed black cherries. This is juicy and fresh, with ripe wild berry fruits complemented by minty herbs and a core of vibrant acidity. It finishes with zesty tension as the mouth waters for more. A tart blackberry crunch lingers on the close.

Memo Summary Notes

The Tenuta di Fessina "Erse" 2022 is often described as a "throwback" to the traditional way Etna wines were made—blending red and white grapes together to create a more elegant, "feminine" profile.

Food Pairings: * Sicilian Classics: Pasta alla Norma (eggplant and salted ricotta) or swordfish.

• Meats: Grilled pork, roasted poultry, or charcuterie.

• Surprise Pairing: Because of its high acidity and mineral edge, it actually works very well with mushroom-based dishes or even seared tuna.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

A straw-yellow wine characterised by rich apple and pear notes, which render it instantly recognisable and appreciated. The taste is warm and dry, slightly tannic and displaying a citric aroma.

Winemaker Description 

Anthìlia 2024 has a yellow straw color. The nose offers a fresh and fragrant bouquet with notes of white pulp fruit and zest of citrus combined with delicate hints of wild – flowers.

In the mouth the fruity notes are enhanced by a pronounced freshness and pleasant sapidity.

Perfect when paired with raw fish, fried fish and vegetable pie; excellent with fresh cheeses and white meat.

Lucido (synonym for Catarratto), the pre- dominant variety; the blend is complemented by other autochthonous and inter- national varieties.

Serve in glasses of medium size and height; it can be uncorked at the time of serving, excellent at 9-11°C (48- 51°F)

Memo Summary Notes 

The Donnafugata Anthìlia 2024 is a beloved Sicilian classic and often the first wine people discover from this legendary estate. Named after the Roman city of Entella, it is a versatile, "sunshine-in-a-glass" white wine that captures the Mediterranean spirit through its blend of indigenous grapes.

Pair with

• The Match: Its saline mineral core makes it perfect for raw or fried seafood, octopus salad, or mussels au gratin.

• Vegetarian: Excellent with vegetable tarts or pasta with zucchini and ricotta.

Winemaker Description 

Occhipinti SP68 Bianco is a dry, organic and biodynamic white wine made with the Albanello and Moscato de Alejandría varieties and produced by Arianna Occhipinti, in Sicily, Italy.

"The name of a road, for a wine that is a journey", is the perfect and forceful description that Arianna Occhipinti gives to her Occhipinti SP68 Bianco, a wine that refers to the Strada Provinciale 68 as a tribute to all those peasants who have travelled along this road from the countryside for three thousand years, first with amphoras and then with barrels containing the fruit of their labour, fatigue and joy, and the aroma of their land.

In the middle of Strada Provinciale 68, in Vittoria, Sicily, we also find the Arianna Occhipinti winery where this Occhipinti SP68 Bianco was created. The wine is made with grapes that come from vineyards with an average age of 15 years, located 280 metres above sea level and composed of soils of red sand and limestone, which are cultivated according to the principles of organic agriculture and biodynamics.

The plots are cultivated without employing chemicals, and the grapes are harvested by hand and fermented with their native yeasts. The must remains in contact with the skins for 15 days. The wine is aged for 6 months in cement tanks and finally bottled unfiltered.

Occhipinti SP68 Bianco is a terroir wine born out of respect for the land and the vineyard, and reflects the philosophy of Arianna Occhipinti who states the following: "If the work in the vineyard is performed with care, the passage to the winery becomes simpler and requires fewer interventions. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

Vinous 94 Points | The first of the two white wines, the 2024 Versante Nord is a blend of varieties sourced from six different vineyards at varying altitudes from the north side of the valley, which receives more sunlight during the day. This wine offers a wealth of power, with notes of salted pineapples, fresh sage, smoky earth, and saline. It’s bright with acidity, salinity, and a light wild side, though very well-managed. It had been bottled just three weeks earlier, so this tasting was a preview prior to its release. Drink over the coming 8-10 years.

Winemaker Description

Vibrant and mineral-driven white from the cooler northern slopes of Mt. Etna. Made from native Sicilian varieties grown on volcanic soils, it’s a wine of precision, tension, and layered complexity. Saline, citrusy, and full of energy, this is a must-try for lovers of terroir-expressive whites. A rising star from one of Etna’s most exciting young winemakers.

To get an idea of what this wine is, Eric Guido of Vinous Media said of last year’s vintage - 91 Points - A pretty blend of crushed yellow apples, lemon zest and ginger wafts up from the 2023 Uve Bianche Versant Nord. It splashes across the palate with tart orchard fruits and crunchy mineral tones enlivened by a core of sour citrus. Spice nuances embellish the close. This ends with a flowery concentration and sour lime, crisply refreshing yet potent and long. Fantastic.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Eric Guido of Vinous 92 Points | The 2021 Cerasuolo di Vittoria entices with a dusty bouquet of citrus-laced blackberries, dried violets and sweet smoke. This is pure and lifted in style, communicating undeniable elegance with a silken wave of ripe wild berry fruit that swirls throughout. It finishes classically dry yet only gently tannic, leaving hints of black raspberry and spice to linger. The 2021 is simply stunning today and has the balance to evolve beautifully through medium-term cellaring.

Winemaker Description 

Located in the southeast of Sicily in the province of Ragusa, Vito Catania of Gulfi Cantina is a leader of organic farming, in a very unforgiving region. Here, clay-limestone soils and 420 meters of elevation yield mind-bendingly tasty reds, made from Nero d'Avola and Frappato.

Following more natural cellar practices, and aged for one year in barrel, the nose is a ruse of sour cherry, plum, and grilled herbs. Super silky and full of Mediterranean gusto on the palate.

Memo Summary Notes

The Gulfi Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2023 is a vibrant, organic red wine from southeastern Sicily. As a DOCG (Italy's highest wine classification), it represents a classic blend of two indigenous grapes: Nero d’Avola, which provides structure and depth, and Frappato, which brings aromatics and freshness.

• Sicilian Classics: Pasta alla Norma (eggplant and ricotta salata) or Caponata.

• Seafood: Surprisingly great with grilled tuna, swordfish, or a spicy Cacciucco (fish stew).

• Casual Bites: Cured meats, medium-aged cheeses, or even a mushroom ragout.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Decanter 91 Points | This Frappato from 40-year-old vines in Vittoria. is vinified using wild yeasts, followed by a 20- to 30-day maceration then maturation for 18 months, 30% in large Slavonian oak barrels and 70% in concrete. Sweet and leafy red fruit scents introduce an energetic palate; intense, airy and tangy. It's light and juicy but with clear verticality which is supported by chalky tannins. Organic. Drink 2023-2027.

Winemaker Description

Frappato was born from my childhood dream of making a wine that tastes like the land I work, the air I breathe, and my own thoughts. It is tart, sanguine and elegant. It is Vittoria and the Iblei mountains. It is the wine that most resembles me, courageous, original and rebellious. He has peasant origins, which is why he loves his roots and the past he carries within. 

Arianna is the niece of Giusto Occhpinti, whose COS wines are undisputedly amongst the very best of Sicily. In 1998, Giusto invited her to help him out at Vinitaly for four days. Arianna was 16 at the time and knew nothing about wine; the experience was such a good one that she decided to study viticulture and oenology in university. This quickly proved counter-intuitive, since everything she had learned from her uncle (organic viticulture, hand-harvesting, native yeast fermentations) clashed with what she was being taught in school.

The 2023 Frappato comes from multiple certified-organic parcels with vines averaging 40 years old, planted on red-sandy, limestone soils. Light to medium bodied and savory with red floral aromas and spicy red fruit aromas. Energetic fuit and mineral notes appear in the mouth with earthy complexity and delicate tannins on the finish. A chillable red and highly quaffable.

Expert Review 

90 Points Wine Spectator | Iodine, dried fig and roasted almond notes leap from the glass in this finely balanced and creamy Marsala, in a dry style. Hints of singed orange peel and ground clove linger on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description

Di Giovanna Camurria Orange is a bright orange wine. An expressive bouquet of wild flowers, almonds, marzipan and orange peel. Medium in body, savory with a beautiful acid core. Layers of citrus, stone fruits and sweet spice envelope.

Memo Summary Notes

The Di Giovanna Camurrìa Orange Grillo is a standout skin-contact white wine (orange wine) from the Contessa Entellina region of Sicily. The name Camurrìa is a Sicilian term for "trouble" or "nuisance"—a playful nod to the extra attention and "trouble" required to produce a natural, unfiltered wine of this style.

Because of its structure and tannins, this wine is more versatile than a standard white:

• Seafood: Grilled calamari, swordfish, or seared scallops.

• Spice: Excellent with North African flavors (Moroccan tagines) or spicy Asian cuisine.

• Cheese: Aged Pecorino or Gouda.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Sourced from six different vineyards at varying altitudes, the 2022 Versante Nord is aged in concrete tank and exhibits perfumed and lifted aromas in the glass, featuring wild raspberries, brambly Mediterranean herbs, dried roses, and dusty earth. It’s pure on the palate, with great energy and peppery spice, as well as lots of focus. It’s a total pleasure to drink now and will drink well over the coming 10 years.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2022 Nerello Mascalese Versante Nord entices with a dusty blend of rose petals, wild strawberries and sweet spice. This is soothingly round with a pretty inner sweetness and depths of ripe red and blue fruits that swirl across a stream of juicy acidity. It tapers off long and staining, just gently tannic, ending with a wild blueberry and blood orange saturation. The 2022 aims to please.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Vinous 92 Points | The 2023 Etna Rosso Pietradolce is a dark and brooding effort with a whiff of flowery underbrush and ashen stone giving way to crushed black cherry. Silky smooth, it sweeps across the palate with ripe wild berry fruit and a collage of sweet spice, all guided by juicy acidity. The 2023 leaves a saturation of primary concentration and a tinge of tart blackberry while finishing with tension. This is far from an easy-drinking, simple Rosso. It should excel through medium-term cellaring.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

The grape variety that expresses the character of Sicily’s oenological tradition better than all the others. This wine is meticulously produced using the estate’s finest resources expresses, in absolute purity, with the extraordinary elegance and ability to improve over time. Label drawn by Versace.

Winemaker Description 

The quality and character of Florio embodied by our first Marsala wine. A Superiore aged in oak barrels for at least 24 months under the centuries-old vaulted ceilings of the Florio Wine Cellars, the perfect accompaniment for any occasion. 

Winemaker Description 

The quality and character of Florio embodied by our first Marsala wine. A Superiore aged in oak barrels for at least 24 months under the centuries-old vaulted ceilings of the Florio Wine Cellars, the perfect accompaniment for any occasion. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Vinous 95 Points | Burnt blood orange, autumnal spices, candied ginger, dried nectarines and a lifting hint of mint create a kaleidoscopic bouquet as the 2022 Ben Ryé blossoms in the glass. Weighty and velvety in feel yet remarkably fresh, it floods the palate with masses of tropical citrus, mango and papaya, all supported by a core of zesty acidity. The 2022 finishes with dramatic length and concentration. A peach nectar resonance and savory spices linger on and on. The 2022 is sure to join the ranks of the best vintages of Ben Ryé. It finished at 200 grams per liter of residual sugar.

The Wine Spectator 94 Points | A gorgeous sweetie, showing a fragrant orange blossom nose, with an enticing range of glazed tangerine, apricot, dried mint and candied ginger, plus rich hints of graham cracker, vanilla and white chocolate. Long and lightly mouth-coating, with tangy blood orange peel acidity focusing this through the juicy finish. Drink now through 2034.

James Suckling 92 Points | A super rich and intense wine with aromas of peaches, dates, pine resin, dried figs, almonds and candied oranges. Full-bodied, it feels oily in the glass and sweet if not caramelized on the palate, with apricot flavors and refreshing acidity that’s not quite enough to balance the sugar. Iodine in the finish.

Memo Notes

The 2022 vintage has been praised for its "kaleidoscopic" bouquet.

• Nose: Intense aromas of dried apricots, candied orange peel, and figs, with tropical hints of mango and papaya. You’ll also notice "Mediterranean macchia" (herbal/balsamic notes like wild mint and sage).

• Palate: Unctuous and honeyed but balanced by a remarkably high acidity that keeps it from being cloying.

A striking single-vineyard expression from the sandy, mineral-rich soils of Mt. Etna’s northwestern flank. Made primarily from old-vine Nerello Mascalese, it offers fine tannins, bright red fruit, and a savory, stony core. This is one of Eduardo’s most refined and site-specific wines—elegant, earthy, and deeply expressive of Etna’s unique terroir.

Eric Guido said of the 2022 vintage - 94+ Points - The 2022 Nerello Mascalese Arenaria takes its time in the glass. It is darkly floral and spiced with a smoldering blend of blackberries and grilled herbs offset by a tinge of tangerine. This impresses further with its combination of tart wild berries and zesty citrus tones elevated by juicy acidity over a stream of silken textures. Complex yet wildly energetic, the 2022 leaves the palate reeling as licorice comes together with black raspberry and cocoa over a bed of fine-grained tannins. The Arenaria is painfully young today yet full of potential, displaying incredible depth and refinement. In a word, spellbinding."

High-altitude, volcanic red that captures the wild beauty of Mt. Etna’s northern slopes. Made primarily from Nerello Mascalese and other native Sicilian varieties, this wine is lifted and aromatic, with notes of red berries, herbs, crushed stone, and spice. Elegant yet energetic, "Quota N" reflects Eduardo’s low-intervention style and deep respect for Etna’s terroir. A pure and soulful expression of Sicilian winemaking.

Eduardo acquired this flat, half-hectare parcel of ungrafted, 80 to 100 year-old, co-planted bush vines. The vines are a a field blend of of red and white grapes. 

It is surrounded by stone walls at the high elevation of 1070 meters in the contrada. The parcel is named Germana for its historical family owner.Eduardo was not allowed to use this name and was also not permiited to use the Nave contrada name, because the site is too high to fall within DOC Etna Rosso rules.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

Vinous 93 Points | The first of the two white wines, the 2024 Versante Nord is a blend of varieties sourced from six different vineyards at varying altitudes from the north side of the valley, which receives more sunlight during the day. This wine offers a wealth of power, with notes of salted pineapples, fresh sage, smoky earth, and saline. It’s bright with acidity, salinity, and a light wild side, though very well-managed. It had been bottled just three weeks earlier, so this tasting was a preview prior to its release. Drink over the coming 8-10 years.

Winemaker Description 

This wine offers a strikingly pure expression of Mt. Etna’s eastern slopes. Grown on volcanic soils at high elevation, this white blend is taut, mineral, and refreshingly saline, with notes of citrus zest, herbs, and crushed rock. A brilliant new bottling from one of Etna’s most exciting voices—available now on pre-sale in limited quantities.

Eric Guido also last year assigned 91 Points to this plot- and said as follows of the 2023 vintage - Crushed rocks, dried flowers, raw almonds and freshly sliced nectarines form a savory bouquet as the 2023 Carricante Versante Est opens in the glass. Nearly salty in character, it washes across the palate with ease, showing tart orchard fruits and hints of lemony custard. The 2023 finishes with medium length, leaving a pleasant chamomile air to linger.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

The Wine Spectator 90 Points | A juicy snap of plum skin acidity animates flavors of plumped cherry, mulberry and dried marjoram, with minerally earth and iron accents. An elegant version, with good expression through the lightly chewy finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Vinous 91 Points | The 2022 Etna Rosso Sul Vulcano lifts from the glass with floral perfumes complicated by shavings of blood orange and crushed wild berries. This is juicy and energetic with crisp red fruits that swirl across a crunchy mineral core. Long and gently tannic, the 2022 tapers off with edgy tannins offset by a bump of residual acidity and hints of blackcurrant linger on. I love how the Sul Volcano is both fun and serious.

Winemaker Description 

With a light ruby ??red colour, Sul Vulcano has a bouquet that stands out for its notes of Asian spices (cardamom and star anise), red fruit (strawberry and black cherry) accompanied by pleasant and fresh balsamic hints. On the palate it is pleasantly juicy, with silky tannins and an elegant finish.

Perfect with appetizers and Mediterranean dishes based on aubergines or mushrooms, ideal with roast or stewed meats. It is a versatile wine that can pair with roast fish as well as accompany dishes from different gastronomic traditions, from North American cuisine (such as chicken wings or hamburgers) to Asian cuisine as long as it is not too spicy. It can also go very well with fusion cuisine such as Tex-Mex, with meat and legume-based dishes.