About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The Carricante comes from the Sciaranuova and Rampante vineyards in Castiglione di Sicilia, in the province of Catania. The vines grow at 850 m above sea level on well-positioned, exposed land. Black lava sands are exceptionally rich in minerals and contain abundant large skeletal material; woodland and more recent lava flows surround the vineyards.
Planting density is 5,050 vines per hectare and yield is 88 quintals per hectare (8.8 t/ha). The vines are trained on espalier systems and pruned using both spurred cordon and Guyot methods.
Cultivation follows organic-farming criteria and the SOStain® protocol. Spontaneous ground cover increases organic matter and supports the soil’s microfauna. Vine protection uses minimal quantities of sulphur and copper, while beneficial insects, mating disruption, zeolite, kaolin and plant extracts are employed against pests. The wine carries Organic Wine, SOStain® and 10.1 B certifications.
Grapes
100% Carricante. The grapes are picked slightly earlier than usual to retain their natural freshness and acidity. The first vintage was 2010.
Vinification
The 2023 grapes were harvested by hand into crates on 14–15 September. They were destemmed and transferred to a soft press. After settling, the must was racked and fermented in stainless-steel tanks at 13 °C. The resulting base wine remained on fine lees until January with continuous stirring. It was prepared for tirage and bottled at the end of March.
Ageing
Following tirage, the wine matured on its lees for an average of 20 months at approximately 12 °C before disgorgement.
Technical data
- Alcohol: 12.5% vol.
- Total acidity: 7.15 g/L
- pH: 3.05
- Residual sugar: 4.8 g/L
- Ageing capacity: 5–10 years
- Formats: 750 ml and 1.5 L
- Bottle weight: 835 g for the 750 ml format
- Closure: natural cork
Tasting profile
Floral aromas remain restrained and are joined by citrus fruit and pronounced mineral character. The perlage is refined and persistent. The palate is notably soft, with delicate citron and passion-fruit flavours, while Mediterranean scrub aromatics mark the rich finish.
Serving and pairing
Its fresh acidity makes it suitable at either the beginning or the end of an evening. It is particularly well matched with fried foods and dishes of marked richness or oiliness.
Vintage notes
The 2023 Etna harvest produced substantially less fruit than average. The crop was already limited after flowering, possibly because May and June rains affected flowering and fruit set in the high-altitude vineyards. Bunch numbers were lower than usual, but the grapes remained very healthy. July heat did not disturb the delicate stages of ripening, which proceeded evenly. A long summer and dry autumn ultimately produced intense, concentrated Etna fruit.