NERELLO MASCALESE - 2017 Benanti Etna Rosso DOC

From humble beginnings in the modern era, the Etna region in Sicily has become synonymous with cutting edge Italian wine making. It is now lauded across the globe, an almost universal favourite of “wine intellectuals” and those “in the know” with every possible flank of the volcano now being utilised for wine production.

So what is it that makes this location so interesting and apparently so conducive to wine?

The indigenous vines grown in sandy, mineral rich soil from the volcanic lava flow. The high-altitude microclimate with dramatic temperature variations between day and night. The salinity of the Mediterranean sea breeze.

Add to this a highly conscientious wine producer such as Benanti and you’ve secured yourself a wine nothing short of outstanding.
Benanti are one of the leaders of Etna, if not Italy. They hand pick, de-stem and softly press the grapes. They cultivate wild fermented yeast for use in the controlled fermentation process. All varieties are vinified separately before being brought together in the bottle.

In Australia, only a very limited selection of the Benanti range is available. We have been lucky enough to secure the 2009 Pietra Marina Etna Bianco Superiore DOC and the 2017 Etna Rosso DOC.