Listen to “246. Exploring Sicily’s Volcanic Vineyards: Mount Etna Wines” on Spreaker.
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Mount Etna, on Italy’s largest island of Sicily, is not only Europe’s most active volcano but also the birthplace of some of the most distinctive wines in the world. The unique volcanic soils, high altitude, and Mediterranean climate create ideal conditions for producing exceptional wines, particularly from indigenous grape varieties. These wines, with their mineral-rich profiles and vibrant acidity, capture the essence of Etna’s dramatic landscape and ancient winemaking traditions, offering a true taste of Sicily’s volcanic terroir.
Summary
We welcome back our wine experts Olivia Windsor and Andrea Mitti Rua, founders of Italian Wine Tales, for this episode on the wines of Sicily’s Mount Etna. Curious about wines made from grapes grown on the slopes of an active volcano? We delve into the unique flavors of Etna Bianco and Etna Rosso and the centuries-old winemaking traditions of Sicily. Discover the best wineries to visit and get insider tips on pairing these volcanic wines with delicious Sicilian cuisine!
What you’ll learn in this episode
- As soon as you land in Catania you see the still active Mount Etna looming and she can even be spotted when you go as far as the Aeolian Islands
- There is historical significance of winemaking on the slopes of Mount Etna which dates back to ancient Greek colonization
- There is an increase in organic viticulture in Sicily. They blend old-world practices with new-world ambition with many young winemakers on the island
- Etna Bianco (White Wine) mainly uses the Carricante and Catarratto bianco grapes. A loose comparison is with Pinot Grigio and it pairs well with Pasta con sarde (with sardines)
- For Etna Rosso (Red Wine) the main grape varieties are Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio with the grapes also being used for the Rosato version. It is similar to Tuscany’s Sangiovese and pairs well with arancino/arancina rice balls and pasta alla norma
- There is a well-organized tourism infrastructure, much more so than in Tuscany. Day tours are easily available from Catania or Taormina
- Recommended wineries to visit are Benanti: with their organic approach and hospitality and Donnafugata which is a larger scale winner and export of their wine is an option
- Preferred times to visit: Late September to early October. Avoiding peak heat and crowds in July and August
- Reflecting on the Sicilian lifestyle and their relationship with the land – their respecting and loving the land, and love of both tradition and innovation are key to their wine-making and the delicious Etna wines
- Encouragement to try Etna wines. You can explore Mount Etna’s diverse landscapes on Untold Italy’s Fall Tours of Eastern Sicily (another tour available visiting Western Sicily)
Timeline Overview
- 00:00 Volcanic soil creates rich, historic, flavorful wine
- 04:06 Sicilian wines include many organic offerings and use a mix of modern techniques and ancient tradition
- 09:00 Etna Rosso, the elegant, floral, spicy, volcanic red wine
- 13:03 Benanti winery blends size, organic approach, philosophy and hospitality
- 14:35 Sicily excels at wine tourism, Tuscany lags behind
- 18:42 Sicily offers warm weather through October, a great time to visit
About our guests – Olivia Windsor and Andrea Mitti Rua
Olivia writes a blog called Livguine, named after her love for pasta and her nickname Liv. She has explored the country south to north, working in agriturismi and organic wineries before settling in Turin, Piedmont for a time after meeting a local Piemontese Andrea. They are both now based in Rome and Olivia hosts various Untold Italy Tours throughout the year in Piedmont, Liguria, Tuscany Capri and Puglia.
Follow Liv and Andrea here
Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned
Places
- Palermo – Sicily’s largest and capital city
- Catania – Sicily’s second-largest city
- Taormina – a town on the east coast that has been a tourist destination since the 19th century
- Syracuse – city on the Ionian coast known for its ancient ruins
- Ortygia – a small island that is at the historical center of the city of Syracuse. The island is also known as the Città Vecchia (Old City
- Benanti – recommended winery
- Donnafugata – large, accesible winery
Food / Drink
- vendemmia – the wine harvest
- Carricante/Catarratto – bianco grapesindigenous to Sicily
- Etna Bianco Superiore – which means it’s been aged longer, so that’s 30 months.
- pasta con sarde – a pasta dish with sardines
- finocchietto – fennel
- Etna Rosso – red wine Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio
- Sangiovese – adaptable red wine grape, deriving its name from the Latin ‘sanguis Jovis’ – the blood of Jupiter
- Etna Rosato – the rosé is from same grapes as Etna Rosso and perfect in summer
- arancino or arancina – named differently depending on if you are in the East or the West of Sicily – the streetfood fried rice balls
- pasta alla norma – a pasta dish made with eggpant
- caponata – eggplant salad with onions, celery, tomatoes, olives and capers
Words / Concepts
- White Lotus – comedy-drama series set in a tropical resort – it follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week
- Oenology – the science and study of wine marking
- Dan Murphy – Australian bottle shop
Related content on Untold Italy
Podcasts
- Ep 238 – Liguria -a small but mighty wine region
- Ep 229 – From Grits to Grape – How Puglia is redefining its wine culture
- Ep 221 – Magical Marsala – The sweet taste of Sicilian wine
- Ep 213 – Wines of Southern Tuscany- Brunello di Montalcino and Beyond
- Ep 206 – Barolo – King of wines and its wonderful region
- Ep 196 – Beyond Chianti – The wonderful world of Italian red wine
- Ep 189 – Pour yourself a glass – Discovering Italian white wines
- Ep 179 – Italian sparkling wine – Toasting the best from Prosecco to Franciacorta
- Ep 144 – Sip your way through the wine bars of Florence
- Ep 092 – Wine windows of Florence
- Ep 019 – Wine and wandering in Umbria
- Ep 013 – Introduction to Italian wine
- Ep 186 – Captivating Catania – Sicilian city of charm
- Ep 107 – Tastes of Sicily
- Ep 069 – Discovering Sicily’s Aeolian islands
- Ep 043 – Palermo – a great base for excursions
- Ep 036 – Palermo – not what you expect
- Ep 031 – Exploring Sicily’s Val di Noto
Articles
- Sicily travel guide
- Best things to do in Sicily
- Best places to visit in Sicily
- Best places to stay in Sicily
- Traditional foods of Sicily
- Best things to do in Palermo
- Where to stay in Palermo
- What to eat in Palermo
- Best things to do in Catania
- Where to stay in Catania
- Sicily – Off the beaten track
- Agrigento – Valley of the Temples Sicily
- The Best wineries in Italy
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