The Volcanic Terroir of Cantoneri Wines
Etna
Vineyards at 670 m a.s.l. on volcanic sandy loam soils. Discover how the Etna territory shapes Cantoneri wines.
On Mount Etna the land is never truly still.
The volcanic terroir of Etna speaks to those who know how to listen.
Different soils interweave parcel after parcel: light, sandy textures alternate with matrices richer in skeleton, able to hold and give back energy.
The Cantoneri vineyards grow on the northern slope of the volcano, between Solicchiata and Castiglione di Sicilia, and lie at around 670 metres above sea level.
At these altitudes the Sicilian sun loses none of its strength, but meets the unique climate of Etna, with cooler nights, strong ventilation and significant temperature shifts . It is as if, with a microclimate like Etna’s, the grape had two times: by day it gathers ripeness, by night it recovers freshness.
On the northern slope of Etna this tension is particularly evident. The reds find depth, tannin and longevity, typical of Sicily’s volcanic wine. The whites, although less historically associated with this area, develop surprising profiles: smoky notes, hints of broom, honey, stone, hydrocarbons.
Nerello Mascalese is, more than any other, the grape variety that tells the story of Etna’s reds in this territory. Elegant, vertical, it has a tannin that at first may seem rough, but which over time relaxes like a lava flow colonised by broom.
Nerello Cappuccio accompanies it with roundness, colour and softness.
Carricante, the native white grape variety, brings freshness, acidity and a subtle, almost sharp minerality.