ETNA
Where Sicily turns silent, smokey, and wild
There is no wine region in Italy like Etna. Not in soil, not in its rhythms, and certainly not in its energy.
High on the slopes of sicily’s active volcano, vines cling to old stone terraces built by hand. The air is thin, electric. The landscape looks more like the Alps than the south, forests, chestnut groves, and volcanic ash underfoot. Everything feels quiet, but never still.
This is where Nerello Mascalese thrives: a red grape that speaks softly, but with precision. It gives wines that feel alpine, smokey, and full of tension. Somewhere between Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo, with a pulse all their own. The whites, especially Carricante, are bright and salty, shaped by altitude and ancient lava flows.
Etna has become one of Italy’s most exciting regions not through fashion, but through feeling. The people who make wine here, many of them returning to family land after decades away, are doing so with humility, curiosity, and a sense of place that’s impossible to fake.
But wine is only part of what draws you in.
There’s something else here: the black soil, the light, the hum of the mountain. Towns like Randazzo, Milo, and Linguaglossa offer slow lunches, quiet churches, chestnut festivals, and air that smells of stone and pine. And from every corner, you see the volcano.
Etna isn’t easy. That’s why it’s worth it.
Some Producers We Trust
Girolamo Russo
Giuseppe Russo didn’t set out to become a winemaker. He returned to his family’s land in Passopisciaro after studying music, slowly restoring the old vines planted by his father. Today, his estate produces some of the most refined Nerello Mascalese on the mountain. Wines that feel quiet at first, but reveal depth and structure with time.
A visit here is understated but rich. Giuseppe greets you himself, and the landscape feels as though it’s been waiting.
Tenuta delle Terre Nere
This is a foundational name in Etna’s modern story. With a deep focus on individual contrade (single vineyard sites), Tenuta delle Terre Nere helped reintroduce the idea that Etna wines could speak of place, not just region. Their wines are elegant, layered, and age-worthy, with each cru offering its own tone and texture.
For those curious to taste Etna’s full range of expression, this is a masterclass.
Ciro Biondi
Ciro Biondi works on Etna’s quieter side, in the hills above Catania. His small plots are steep, terraced, and full of character. Here, the wines take center stage: Carricante with cut-glass clarity and saline precision. The reds are no less compelling: airy, aromatic, and beautifully restrained.
It’s a more intimate experience: fewer words, fewer people, and the sense that you’ve stumbled into something you weren’t suppose to find, but are lucky you did.
Curious about Etna?
Whether you’re dreaming of walking through black volcanic soil, sipping Nerello Mascalese under chestnut trees, or simply curious what makes this corner of Sicily so different, let’s start the conversation.
We create wine experiences that can stand alone or be woven into a full journey through Italy. Every itinerary is personal. Every detail is intentional.
Fill out the form below, or reach out directly: ciao@lucaitalianexperiences.com
