Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
Contrada Salice lies in Milo on the eastern side of Mount Etna. Milo receives roughly twice as much rain as the volcano’s northern and southern sectors. Its predominantly east-facing, steep terraces fall into the volcano’s shadow early, while warm scirocco winds arrive across the Ionian Sea. The resulting environment is humid, breezy and notably fresh, with fog possible even on summer evenings.
The principal vineyard description covers 1.2 hectares between 600 and 750 metres above sea level. The vines are 50–80 years old, rooted in deep volcanic soil composed largely of volcanic ash and “ripiddu”; drainage is lower than average. Yield is 6 tonnes per hectare.
The estate acquired its small Milo property in 2019 after approximately twenty years of neglect and rebuilt its dry-stone walls by hand. The site was selected to balance Milo’s cool conditions with sufficient exposure: neither so high that the climate becomes excessively severe nor so low that heat diminishes the austere, incisive character sought for the wine. While waiting for the restored vineyard to produce, the initial expression was made with grapes selected from trusted local growers.
The 2022 technical sheet describes a different vineyard profile: 1.5 hectares at 750 metres on the southeastern slope, with young vines under 20 years old trained en goblet. Its soil is characterized as very sandy, shallow and fairly poor volcanic ground, and its yield as 4 tonnes per hectare.
Grapes
100% Carricante.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested during the first ten days of October. They undergo soft pressing, followed by low-temperature fermentation in stainless-steel tanks.
Ageing
Nine months in stainless-steel tanks.
Technical data
The 2022 wine has 12.5% alcohol. Annual production is 3,200 bottles of 750 ml. The first released vintage was 2017.
Tasting profile
Pale straw yellow. The nose is complex and combines floral and mineral notes, including a suggestion of linden blossom. The palate is intense, fresh, savoury and broad, recalling fresh fruit and citrus, with good persistence. Its broader stylistic conception is sharp, slender, austere and aristocratic.
Serving and pairing
Serve at 10–12 °C with light pasta dishes, fish or white meats.
Label / history
Milo has a long association with Etna’s white wines. When the Etna DOC rules were established in 1968, only white wines from Milo were entitled to use the “Superiore” designation. Its particularly fresh, humid and windy microclimate was considered demanding but especially promising for white varieties.
