Numerous eruptions have created several types of soil at different ages that is nutrient-rich is minerals such as magnesium, copper, phosphorus and iron amoungst others.Įtna's international profile received a particular boost in 2001 when Mick Hucknall (of British pop group Simply Red) established his Il Cantante winery there. In fact, far from posing problems, the cooler temperatures are actually helpful, and offer the luxury of a cooler, longer growing season.Īnother major component of the suitability of Etna terroir to winemaking is the volcanic soil type. Ripeness is almost never a concern in Sicily, a place famous for its hot, bright, persistent sunshine (at a latitude of 37°N, it is far from the coolest of European wine regions).Įtna's higher slopes are almost the only place on the island where temperatures fall sufficiently low to cause concern for ripeness. The added sunshine hours helps to ripen the grapes more completely, even at cooler, higher altitudes.
The local growers make much of this effect, which is similar to those reported around Lake Geneva and along the Mosel. This most extreme terroir may be tempting fate, but the cachet of owning high-altitude vineyards is growing, and early results from these vines show promise.įrom almost anywhere on Etna's slopes, looking eastwards will reveal how much light the glinting Mediterranean reflects back up onto the vines here. The highest of Etna's vineyards now rank among the highest in Italy (and even the world), easily matching those of Alpine Alto Adige.Įtna's wine producers are experimenting with vineyard sites further and further up the volcano's slopes, to gauge the effects of the richer, blacker lava flow soils and increased altitude. The graduated topography creates a smooth spread of mesoclimates, as the land climbs up from near-sea-level to more than 1200 meters (3940ft). The Etna wine-producing zone arcs around the eastern side of the volcano, from Randazzo in the north to Santa Maria di Licodia in the south. There is also a relatively rare rosato (rosé) form also based on Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio. Superiore Etna must contain 80 percent Carricante and is only permitted within the commune of Milo. Its bianco (white) counterpart is composed of at least 60 percent Carricante, backed up by Sicily's most widely planted white grape, Catarratto, and a host of minor additions including Trebbiano and Minnella. Up to 20 percent of Nerello Cappuccio is permitted which is also known here as Nerello Mantellato. The most commonly produced form of Etna wine is the standard Etna Rosso, a red made predominantly from the Nerello Mascalese grape variety. It was the very first DOC on the island, created in August 1968 and followed nine months later by that of Sicily's most famous wine, Marsala. Etna is a DOC which covers the slopes of Mount Etna, the 3330 meter (10,920ft) active volcano that dominates the Italian island of Sicily.