Nerello Cappuccio 2020

The Benanti estate was already cultivating vines on Etna in the 19th century. But it was Giuseppe Benanti, a thriving entrepreneur, who, having discovered late in life his love for his origins at the foot of the volcano, began to create something new on this small piece of land of his ancestors. He was one of the precursors of viticulture on Etna and became, over time, a great specialist in this very particular terroir. Giuseppe Benanti then helped a large number of young winegrowers get started by sharing his vast experience with them. The generational change is now complete, the brothers Antonio and Salvino Benanti have taken up the torch. They continue their father's work, with the same obsession, that of producing great wines on the black earth of the volcano.

This vintage, made from 30-year-old vines, is produced on volcanic soil on the southwest slope of Etna at an altitude of 900 meters. This wine is made from Nerello Cappuccio grown on sandy and volcanic soils rich in minerals. The grapes are harvested manually and destemmed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature, with a two-week maceration, using indigenous yeasts specifically selected in the vineyard by Benanti after years of experimentation. The wine ages exclusively in stainless steel for approximately 12 months, then ages in bottle for approximately 6 months. This wine reveals aromas of wild strawberries , cherry , violet , cranberry , black berries , aromatic herbs and ashy and mineral notes. The palate conveys salinity, tension, freshness, satiny tannins and aromatic intensity. The whole is very well balanced, it is a vintage full of harmony and accuracy.

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!