Nerello Mascalese

Explore the Volcanic Terroir

Nerello Mascalese is one of the most fascinating and elegant Italian red wines.

Absolute protagonist of the Etna area as it represents the power, elegance and majesty of the great Sicilian volcano.
Like a undisputed King of the wines present on the mystical Etna, located on the east coast of Sicily, an eternal land of fire and passions, and inherits its extraordinary nuances, enclosing them in a wine with an intense flavor and opulent notes , which decree its undisputed uniqueness. Uniqueness partly due to the deep soil rich in ash, mineral salts and sand of the highest active volcano in Europe which, with its 3330m above sea level and its majestic conical shape, dominates the beautiful city of Catania and the wonderful paradise of Taormina.

This variety made its first appearance in history with the Greek colonization. The Greeks, in fact, filled the slopes of the volcano with grapes and temples dedicated to Dionysus, identified in Rome as Bacchus, the god of wine and ecstasy. Subsequently, in Roman times, the county of Mascali, from which it is said the name Mascalese derives, played a very important role in its diffusion.
At the fall of the Roman Empire, the cultivation of vines and the production of wine experienced alternating phases between the Arab, Norman and Bourbon domination, up to the present day and the introduction of the designations of origin and in fact is present in several Sicilian Docs: Faro, county of Sclafani, Alcamo, Riesi, Marsala, Sicily, while Its most prestigious versions go under the Etna Doc denomination.

According to 1968 regulations, Nerello Mascalese is the main component of the DOC denomination of Etna Rosso, representing 80% of the blend, and the remaining 20% is composed of the Nerello Cappuccio.

Discover more about: Soil, Climate, Grape, Terroir.

Nerello Mascalese is the result of this elements

Volcanoes tell an ancient story, a story of millions of years ago, fascinating and frightening at the same time. The fascination of volcanoes has to do with the uncontrollable force of nature, which creates and destroys, in an absolute sense and also in relation to wine. Volcanic wines are one of the latest and most important trends in the wine world. The grapes grown on volcanic soils give the wine unique characteristics. The lapilli of which the magma is formed, which forms the soil, are mainly made of silica, iron and magnesium. The vineyard absorbs these “moods” and returns them to the glass: minerality, persistence, elegance and complexity. So the wine becomes sharp, pungent and the temperature range between day and night does nothing but emphasize the aromatic freshness of the grapes.
The wine, which at the table should be served in large glasses at a temperature of about 16-18 °C., Has a deep red color, a cherry red tending to garnet. On the nose it shows elegant aromas of small red fruits and hints of licorice and spices. On the palate it is dry, tannic, persistent and harmonious.

For its elegance and class it has often been nicknamed the “Burgundy of the Mediterranean”.