DOC Etna D.O.C. wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

Denominazione di Origine Controllata

The Etna D.O.C. appellation lies on the slopes of Mount Etna, in the province of Catania, Sicily, spanning around twenty municipalities. The vineyards are planted in terraces at altitudes that often exceed 900 metres, an unusual situation in Sicily, where most vineyards lie on the plains. The soils are volcanic, made up of sand and gravel from lava flows and ash, rich in minerals such as augite and olivine, and vary noticeably from one flow to another. Altitude and exposure to the wind temper the Mediterranean climate and widen the gap between day and night temperatures. The permitted grape varieties are carricante and catarratto for white wines, and nerello mascalese and nerello mantellato, also called nerello cappuccio, for red and rosé wines. This combination of volcanism, altitude and native grape varieties clearly sets Etna apart from other Sicilian appellations, which are grown at lower altitudes on limestone or clay soils.

The wines of this appellation

Etna D.O.C. produces white, red and rosé wines, as well as sparkling wines. The whites, based on carricante, show a straw-yellow colour, floral and citrus aromas, marked salinity and minerality, carried by a lively acidity that gives them good ageing potential. The reds, made from nerello mascalese, display a ruby colour that turns garnet with age, aromas of cherry, wild strawberry and flowers, lifted by spicy notes, with a fine tannic structure and fresh acidity; the best bottlings gain complexity after several years in the cellar. The rosés, pale in colour, stand out for their freshness and notes of red fruit and citrus. The whites pair with raw fish, shellfish and young cheeses, the reds go with red meats, stews and matured cheeses, while the rosés are enjoyed as an aperitif or with light Mediterranean cuisine.