2022 Pietradolce Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy

ABOUIT THIS WINE

If you wanted to taste summer in a glass, this is a good place to start. The little known grape of Nerello Mascalese is a delight in the growing trend for light body, light alcohol red wines. Fresh strawberries, raspberries, cherries and the sweet and refreshing juiciness of blood orange with a silky mouthfeel describe this wine.

100% Nerello Mascalese, a variety indigenous to Sicily. Uniquely, these vines are in the rare category of ‘pre phylloxera’, and are on their original root stocks. Averaging around 100 years, and grown on the volcanic soils, you can taste the history, soil and sunshine here. 

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Pietradolce was established in 2005 on the northern slopes of Mount Etna by the Faro family, whose passions are viticulture, agriculture, and all things Etna. High altitudes, mineral-rich volcanic soils, native grapes, an exceptional Mediterranean, climate, low intervention in the cellar, and very old vines are the perfect ingredients for elegant wines with a one-of-a-kind signature, style, and enormous sense of place.

Pietradolce is located in Solicchiata, an area within the district of Castiglione di Sicilia, on the northern slopes of Etna.

There are a little over 86 acres of vineyards that grow at an altitude of 600-900 meters (2,000-3,000 feet) above sea level, all located within the districts of Rampante, Zottorinoto, and Santo Spirito.

“At the heart of our philosophy is a love for our land which is equaled by the respect with which we treat it. We look to the rich local traditions for all that is best in them, combining them with an intelligent use of modern viticultural techniques to give life to our passion: the wines of Etna,” explains Michele Faro, one of the owners of the winery.

Pietradolce’s passion for the wines of Etna extends to the grapes they grow. The winery only grows native Etna grapes, such as Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, and Carricante.