2021 Benanti Etna Bianco Superiore "Contrada Rinazzo", Sicily, Italy

ABOUT THIS WINE

100% Carricante. Vineyards in Contrada Rinazzo, on the Eastern slope of Mount Etna within the territory of Milo (CT). The contrada is particularly well-known for its elevation (approximately 800 m a.s.l. / 2,600 ft a.s.l.), abundant luminosity, continuous ventilation and exposure to the sea.

East-facing, terraced vineyard of Carricante, the noble indigenous white grape variety of the Etna volcano. The vines are planted in sandy, volcanic soil that is rich in minerals, with a sub-acid reaction. The young vines are grown with a traditional alberello system and rest against a chestnut pole, with a planting density of about 8,000 plants per hectare and a yield of 6,500 kg/ha. The mountainous climate is humid and rainy and snowy in the colder seasons, with extremely good ventilation and significant changes between day and night temperatures.

The grapes are hand-harvested after mid October. In the cellar, they are de-stemmed and pressed softly. Fermentation takes place at a temperature of about 18°C in stainless steel vats over 12 days, using a specific indigenous Etna yeast that has been selected by our team after many years of research and experimentation in the vineyard and in the cellar. The wine is left to mature in stainless steel on its own fine lees, with frequent stirrings, over 12 months. The wine then ages for another 6 months in the bottle before it is released.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Winemaking in the Benanti family can be traced back to the late 1800s in Viagrande. This deep-rooted passion for wine is what led Giuseppe Benanti to establish the namesake winery in 1988. Located on Mount Etna, “an island within the island” of Sicily, the Benanti family produces wines using 100% native grapes – Carricante, Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. With vineyards positioned on four different slopes of the Etna volcano: North, East, South-East and South-West, the climatic influence and volcanic soils from each slope combine to create territorial wines with a “sense of place.” Benanti is the only winery with vineyards on every slope of the Etna DOC area.

Benanti is the only winery with vineyards on every slope of the Etna DOC area.

After 25 years at the helm of the winery and greatly contributing to the development and growth of the whole region, Giuseppe passed the torch to his sons in 2012. Antonio and Salvino Benanti now lead the winery with the same vision and passion as their father, continuing the reputation as a very traditional producer and the pioneer of fine wine making on Mount Etna.