Red Wine - Nerello Mascalese Etna Rosso

Lively, intense and complex with juicy red cherry, a hint of smoke and a warming sweet spice, all balanced by a structural acidity and smooth tannins - A delightful pairing for ragù, Bresaola or mature cheeses.

Cantine Nicosia is based on the south-eastern side of Mount Etna in Trecastagni, Sicily, at the foot of the volcano. Here, fifth generation winemakers, Francesco and Graziano Nicosia are dedicated to capturing the unique qualities of grapes grown around Etna. Their modern winery is purpose built for the pure expression of these qualities in Nicosia's wines.

This Etna Rosso is made from 100% Nerello Mascalese grown in the contrada of Monte San Nicolò in the sub-region of Trecastagni on the south-eastern slopes of Mount Etna. This site has a large diurnal range and the vines are planted in mineral-rich sandy volcanic soils composed of eruptive materials including red pumace, which drains well and is rich in potassium. Here Nerello Mascalese vines, planted at 550-600m above sea level, are trained in the ancient "alberello" system, whereby the vines grow around vertical stakes.

The grapes are havested by hand and undergo maceration and fermentation for 10-15 days at a controlled temperature of 24-26°C. The wine is then pressed into a 50:50 mix of stainless steel vats and oak barriques. The barrique half ages for 6 months before transferring to larger oak tonneaux for a further 4 months of aging. Following assemblage, the wine is bottled and cellared for 6 months before release.