Etna Bianco 2019

The Monte Ilice estate is located in Sicily, on the southern slope of the Etna Park, at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level, on the steep slopes of Mount Ilice, an extinct crater where viticulture has always been practiced with dedication, giving a place of poetic beauty. The vineyard, made up of 5 hectares completely abandoned for years, was recovered by saving a large part of the original vines and replanting local grape varieties. The steep slopes (40%) make any mechanization impossible. The Mediterranean climate, with a wide temperature range between day and night, allows optimal ripening of the grapes. The harvest is done exclusively by hand. Fermentation and aging take place in stainless steel vats for at least 6 months. The wine then rests for 8 to 10 months in the bottle. This wine reveals floral notes of hawthorn and orange blossom , Mediterranean herbs , candied lemon , pear , stone fruits , kumquat and orange peel . The palate is round and saline, balanced by beautiful bitters and moderate acidity. The finish is mineral and recalls the volcanic terroir of this vintage.

Ah Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, people of the Dolce Vita, but what difficulty in understanding its wine organization! The key to understanding the naming system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous country because each region has its own naming system. Italy can, however, give wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, as well as bottles filled with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless and characterless wines which are sold under their most useful and commercially reputable name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others... But let's talk a little history, viticulture in Italy dates back to ancient times and it originated in Greece. The Etruscans would have planted vines and Greek immigrants would have improved and modified the grape varieties who subsequently called this country "Oenotria": the country of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life and certain regions already stood out for the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible testimony to their invasion. Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic areas. The northern mountains experience a fairly harsh mountain climate. The “middle of the boot” plain is the domain of the continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the "southern part of the Italian boot" the Mediterranean climate reigns with very hot and very dry summers without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In summary, Italy produces wines of great variety thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originate from their lands. It is a country just as complex as its wines which deserve to be explored!