About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The wine comes from the smallest parcel among the terraces of Sciaranuova in Castiglione di Sicilia, beside the sciara formed by the historic eruption that began in 1614 and continued for ten years. The parcel contains 3,000 Pinot Nero vines. Although the variety has been present locally for centuries, its cultivation in the area was historically neither widespread nor continuous.
The 2023 technical sheet places the vineyard at 825–835 m, while the wine page gives a general altitude of 820 m. The terrain is black with lava sands, exceptionally rich in minerals and marked by abundant large mineral elements. Woodland and more recent lava flows surround the site.
Planting density is 5,050 vines per hectare and the 2023 yield was 42 quintals per hectare, equivalent to 4.2 tonnes per hectare. The vines are trained on an espalier with Guyot pruning.
Cultivation follows organic-agriculture criteria and SOStain® protocols. Wild ground cover is maintained to build organic matter and support soil microfauna. Vine health is managed with small quantities of sulphur and copper, while beneficial insects, mating disruption, zeolite, kaolin and plant extracts are used against pests. The wine carries Vino Biologico and SOStain® certification, together with the designation “10.1 B.”
Grapes
100% Pinot Nero. The first vintage was 2012.
Vinification
The 2023 grapes were harvested on 16 September into crates holding approximately 14 kg. They were chilled to 10°C, selected by hand and destemmed without crushing. Fermentation took place in concrete tanks, with the temperature gradually raised to 26°C and light manual punch-downs. The wine remained on the skins for 13 days and was then pressed in a basket press.
Ageing
Maturation took place in stainless steel and, for 25% of the wine, in a vessel identified as “clayer.” Bottling was completed in May 2025.
Technical data
- Vintage: 2023
- Classification: Terre Siciliane IGT
- Alcohol: 13% vol.
- Total acidity: 5 g/L
- pH: 3.54
- Bottle: 750 ml, weighing 460 g
- Closure: single-piece DIAM® natural cork
- Cellaring potential: 5–10 years
Tasting profile
Flint and ink meet aromas of wild plums and cherries. The palate is lively yet graceful and elegant, with tannins that are velvety but responsive.
Serving and pairing
Pair with quail, woodcock and other refined game dishes. It can also accompany fresh caciocavallo or a cauliflower sformato.
Vintage notes
Production on Etna in 2023 was decidedly below average. The crop was already limited after flowering, possibly because rain in May and June affected flowering and fruit set in the high-altitude vineyards. Bunch numbers were lower than usual, but the grapes were very healthy. July heat did not disrupt the sensitive phases of ripening, which proceeded evenly. A long summer and dry autumn produced intense, concentrated grapes.
Label / history
The name recalls the eruption of 1614, the longest recorded historic eruption of Etna. Its lava flow stopped beside the terraces of Sciaranuova where this Pinot Nero parcel grows.