Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The vines were planted by the Tasca family in 1960 on volcanic terraces at 750 m on the northern slope of Mount Etna. The site has black volcanic soils and walls built from volcanic rock, with nearby chestnut and oak forests contributing to its biodiversity. Ancient lava-cut channels covered in moss and lichen cross the landscape. The vineyards can only be tended mechanically.
The northern exposure was chosen deliberately after experimentation indicated that excessive sunlight caused Nerello Mascalese to lose some of its identity.
Vinification
After harvest, fermentation lasts eight days at a controlled temperature of 25–30 °C, followed by malolactic fermentation.
Ageing
The wine matures for 18 months in oak barrels, followed by four months in bottle in the winery’s cellars.
Tasting profile
Powerful, tannic and strong in character, with less roundness and softness than a more familiar expression of Sicily.
Label / history
The family had long supported local grape varieties and eventually chose to focus on Nerello Mascalese after previously lacking the time to do so. First released in 2008, the wine’s name combines Tasca with Etna written backwards.
