Appellation: Etna

High-elevation volcanic wines from the slopes of Sicily's active Mount Etna.

Etna's vineyards climb the flanks of an active volcano, some among the highest in Europe, rooted in black volcanic soils of ash and lava. The altitude and volcanic ground give the wines a distinctive tension and minerality that has drawn comparisons to Burgundy and Barolo, despite the Sicilian latitude.

The reds, made from Nerello Mascalese, are pale, perfumed, and structured — red fruit, herbs, and a smoky, ashy edge. The whites, from Carricante, are taut and citrusy with real aging potential. Old, ungrafted vines on terraced slopes add to the region's growing prestige.