About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The vineyards are located at 500 m on the eastern slope of Mount Etna, near Viagrande. The youngest vines are approximately 80 years old, while surviving pre-phylloxera plants are more than a century old and still bear fruit.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested in late September. A long fermentation and cold skin maceration take place in 5,200 L wooden vats, followed by malolactic fermentation.
Ageing
The wine matures for one year in 225 L oak barriques, then rests in bottle in the estate’s cellars for a further 12–15 months before release.
Label / history
The name “Serra della Contessa” first appeared in a Latin notarial document in 1474. The Benanti winemaking dynasty began in the late nineteenth century, when Giuseppe Benanti, great-grandfather and namesake of the current owner, planted vineyards near Viagrande on the slopes of Mount Etna. Dr Giuseppe Benanti took ownership of the company in 1988 and studied the local soils and native grape varieties before introducing modern winemaking methods for traditional grapes.
