DOC Etna Red Wine

On the Mount Etna the grapevine plays a fundamental role. The 'Homo Etneus' enhanced a rugged and wild territory by building majestic terraces, dry-stone walls and the so-called 'Palmenti' (places where grapes were crushed), which are unique artworks of rural architecture that made the Etna be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Etna's viticulture is different due to both the original climate environment and the peculiarity as well as excellence of the wines produced. The particular chemical and sensorial features are given by the local vine variety Nerello Mascalese and Carricante.

The ruby-red color assumes garnet-red nuances with ageing, the winey smell has a typical intense scent; the dry, strong, full and harmonic taste is characterized by tannins and fixed acidity reminding of Etna's rugged landscape and the dark volcanic sand. They are ideally aged in wooden barrels, where unexpected scents develop. The rosé wine is more delicate, with a ruby-red color and a fruity taste, it is dry and smells like fermenting must. The white wine has a straw-yellow color with golden nuances, the fine scent comes from the local Carricante cultivar, which has been farmed since a long time.
The rules are attached to the acknowledgment decree of the President of Italy issued on the 11th of August 1968. The 'Strada del Vino dell'Etna' was planned by the Regional Province of Catania, and it allows the tourists to follow an evocative route winding along the Etna massif, lingering in the vineyards and in the cellars of the most prestigious districts. The 'Strada del Vino dell'Etna' (www.stradadelvinodelletna.it) is in the 7th place of the national list of the 'Strade del Vino' (5th Citta del Vino/Censis report presented by the Città del Vino National Association), and it represents one of the best features to visit, as if it was an island within an island.

In the Park area, the DOC (controlled designation of origin) products are produced in the municipalities of Castiglione di Sicilia (CT) and Randazzo (CT). (DOC Etna Wine protection Cooperative, ℅ Chamber of Commerce I.A.A. of Catania - via Salita Cappuccini, 2 - Catania - Ph. +39 095 932822 - www.etnadoc.com).