Vineyard and terroir

The Riesling comes from Sciaranuova at Castiglione di Sicilia (CT), where 4,500 Riesling Renano vines were planted on terraces more than 800 metres above sea level. The vineyard lies at 815 metres, beside the sciara formed by the eruption that began in 1614 and continued for ten years. Its black, coarse-textured volcanic sands are particularly rich in minerals, while woodland and more recent lava flows surround the site.

The vines are planted at 5,050 plants per hectare and trained on an espalier with Guyot pruning. Yield is 65 quintals per hectare (6.5 t/ha). The vineyard follows organic farming principles and SOStain® protocols. Wild ground cover is retained to build organic matter and encourage soil microfauna. Vine health is managed with small quantities of sulphur and copper, beneficial insects, mating disruption, and natural treatments including zeolite, kaolin and plant extracts. The wine is certified organic and SOStain®.

Grapes

100% Riesling Renano. The variety was chosen for Sciaranuova's high-altitude terraces and lava-derived soils.

Vinification

For the 2023 vintage, harvesting took place on 20 September. Grapes were collected in 13–15 kg crates, immediately chilled to 8 °C, selected by hand and destemmed. After approximately six hours of skin contact, they underwent gentle pressing. The settled must was racked and fermented in stainless steel at approximately 15–17 °C.

Ageing

The wine matured in stainless-steel vats and remained on its fine lees for ten months. Bâtonnage was performed every two weeks during the first six months. The 2023 vintage was bottled in September 2024 with a STELVIN® Deluxe closure.

Technical data

Appellation: Terre Siciliane I.G.T.
Alcohol: 12.5% vol.
Total acidity: 6.25 g/L
pH: 3.17
Residual sugar: 2.25 g/L
Bottle: 0.75 L
Bottle weight: 460 g
Ageing potential: 7–10 years
First vintage: 2014

Tasting profile

Pale in colour with green reflections. The youthful aroma combines white apple, plum, lemon and yellow flowers. The palate is fully dry, with controlled yet vibrant acidity and a distinctly mineral character.

Serving and pairing

Its fruit-driven acidity suits clean, direct flavours such as baked mackerel, steamed sea bream, rice with green vegetables and raw vegetables. Suggested international pairings include sashimi and quesadilla.

Vintage notes

Production on Etna in 2023 was markedly below average. The crop was already small after flowering, possibly because May and June rain coincided with flowering and fruit set in the high-altitude vineyards. The reduced number of bunches remained very healthy. July heat did not disrupt the sensitive stages of ripening, which proceeded evenly. A long summer followed by a dry autumn produced concentrated, substantial grapes.

Label / history

The name refers to the eruption that began in 1614 and lasted ten years, creating the sciara beside the vineyard terraces. First produced in 2014, it is presented as the first Riesling made on Etna and in Sicily.