Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
Eruzione 1614 Carricante comes from the Sciaranuova vineyard in Castiglione di Sicilia, on terraced slopes of Etna at 815–860 metres above sea level. The black, lava-sand soils are exceptionally rich in minerals and contain abundant coarse elements. Woodland and more recent lava flows surround the site.
The vines are trained on espalier systems, with both spurred-cordon and Guyot pruning. Planting density is 5,050 vines per hectare, and the stated Carricante yield is 80 quintals per hectare (8,000 kg/ha).
The vineyard is cultivated organically under SOStain® protocols. Wildflower ground cover builds organic matter and supports the soil’s microfauna. Vine health is managed with small quantities of sulphur and copper, while pest control employs beneficial insects, mating disruption and natural treatments including zeolite, kaolin and plant extracts. The wine is certified organic and SOStain®.
Grapes
100% Carricante.
Vinification
For the 2023 vintage, harvesting took place from 2 to 7 October. The grapes were collected in crates, immediately refrigerated to 8°C and selected by hand. They then underwent light destemming and gentle pressing. After settling, the must was racked and fermented in stainless-steel tanks at temperatures between 10 and 18°C.
Ageing
The wine matured in stainless steel and remained on its fine lees with continual stirring until August. The 2023 vintage was bottled in January 2024.
Technical data
- Alcohol: 13% vol.
- Total acidity: 6.65 g/L
- pH: 3.23
- Ageing potential: 7–10 years
- Bottle: 0.75 L, weighing 460 g
- Closure: Stelvin® Deluxe
Tasting profile
Very pale golden yellow. The nose combines white and yellow flowers—including wild pear blossom, elderflower and borage—with French honeysuckle honey, beeswax, chestnut blossom and a wheat-like note. The palate conveys the wine’s high-altitude origin through firm, persistent acidity, with flavours of Granny Smith apple, orange wood and freshly harvested wheat.
The broader profile is fresh, fruity and mineral. Ripe fruit and white flowers lead into a palate that balances softness with assertive flavour. Lemon peel and green apple accompany a pronounced mineral character that lengthens the finish.
Serving and pairing
Pair with fish dishes, white meat or mild cheeses.
Vintage notes
The 2023 Etna growing season produced substantially less fruit than average. Crop levels were already low after flowering, possibly because rain in May and June affected flowering and fruit set in the high-altitude vineyards. The surviving bunches were fewer than usual but very healthy. July heat did not disrupt the delicate maturation stages; ripening remained even, and the long summer followed by a dry autumn produced intense, substantial grapes.
Label / history
The wine takes its name from Etna’s eruption of 1614. Lasting ten years, it was the longest eruption recorded in the volcano’s history and stopped at the boundary of the Sciaranuova vineyard. The event inspired the name of this Etna cru. Its first vintage was 2009.
