Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
Franchetti is grown beside the Passopisciaro winery in Contrada Guardiola at approximately 820–850 m. The vines stand on pyroclastic lava soil estimated at 15,000 years old. Planting is exceptionally dense at 12,300 vines per hectare, originally described as 0.9 × 0.9 m spacing. The vineyards were established in the early 2000s, after Andrea Franchetti acquired the estate.
Concentration is pursued through dense planting and very low yields. Green harvesting traditionally leaves only five bunches on each vine.
Grapes
Blend proportions vary by vintage. Latest published vintage (2023): 60% Petit Verdot and 40% Cesanese d’Affile. Petit Verdot was planted using cuttings from Saint-Julien; Cesanese d’Affile provides a gentler, more aromatic counterpoint. On Etna’s volcanic ground, Petit Verdot develops a peppery, spicy profile with a leaner, firmer body and substantial structure.
Vinification
The 2023 fruit was picked manually in several passes between 27 September and 16 October, with selection focused on the best bunches. Traditional alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless-steel vats. The wine also undergoes malolactic fermentation.
Ageing
For 2023, the wine spent six months in French barriques and a further 12 months in large Slavonian-oak barrels. The estate’s general description also refers to ageing in new French oak. A total of 2,505 bottles were filled during the waning moon in April 2025.
Technical data
Planting density: 12,300 vines/ha. Production for 2023: 2,505 bottles.
Tasting profile
The 2023 bouquet combines fruit and flowers with aromatic herbs and a restrained saline accent. The palate is dense but elegant, balancing structure with freshness before a savory, persistent finish. Vinous additionally described herbal and spicy aromas, wet stone, rosemary and citrus-edged blackberry, followed by silky textures, ripe red and black fruit, vivid acidity, firm tannins, licorice and tart wild berries. The wine was tasted from tank before bottling and was judged to need time to find its balance.
Vintage notes
Heavy winter snowfall replenished water reserves after the dry 2022 season. Spring remained dry and mild until May, when persistent rain and low temperatures disrupted flowering. Downy mildew reduced production, particularly among earlier-ripening varieties. July then brought temperatures reaching 40°C, and the red varieties ripened unevenly. Repeated manual passes enabled close bunch selection. The approach retained Petit Verdot’s freshness and character while capturing Cesanese d’Affile’s concentration and acidity.
Label / history
Franchetti bears Andrea Franchetti’s name as his personal homage to Mount Etna. Conceived as a denser, more concentrated alternative to the lighter-colored, lighter-bodied wines of Nerello Mascalese, it expresses the maker’s interpretation of an Etna wine rather than a fixed recipe. The blend changes every year according to the quality of the grapes and the character of the vintage. The first vintage was released in 2005 after the young vines had been given several years to establish themselves.
