By now most die-hard Italian wine lovers have already discovered or at least have heard of the sleek, fragrant reds from the slopes of Mount Etna. Made with Nerello Mascalese, the most widely-grown grape on the volcano, and sometimes with a small percentage of Nerello Cappuccio added, these elegant reds are linear and vibrant, with sensations of violet, small red berry and of course mineral sensations that range from smoky flint to saline.
While white wine production on Etna has long been a minor player, this has changed dramatically in the last ten years. And with good reason: the best whites from Etna are racy, mineral-driven wines with restrained elegance, a crystalline purity and surprising aging potential.
Here’s everything you need to know about these exciting whites.
Kerin O’Keefe September 2023 ©kerinokeefe.com
