Etna Rosso Fedegraziani 2019

Etna Rosso Fedegraziani is a joyful expression of the northern slope of Sicily's gentle giant. It also well embodies the spirit of Federico Graziani, a multifaceted winegrower, who has ranged from the title of "Best Sommelier of the Year" at the age of 23, then commercial manager of a winegrowing business to his current role as winegrower. Since the first vintage, in 2014, the strong temperature swings between night and day during the summer period give authenticity and freshness to this blend composed almost entirely of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. This land of oxymorons, between sea and mountain, lava and water, results in a unique and extraordinary terroir.

Fedegraziani Etna Rosso comes to life from sandy, skeleton-rich soils on a 1.5-hectare piece of land. The vines, bush-trained on the inaccessible slopes of the volcano, defy time with an average age of 75 years. The integrity of the grapes and the Etnean nature are expressed in the glass under the guidance of Federico, who accompanies the work in the vineyard, which is exclusively manual, and favours spontaneous fermentation. Created with the idea of being easily accessible to as many people as possible, it matures 12 months in steel followed by 6 months in the bottle. The winery's main objective is the valorization of Etna's wine heritage and its promotion, avoiding the use of systemic treatments and pesticides.

Federico Graziani's Etna Rosso enters the scene delicately, but is immediately elegant and captivating. To the eye it's ruby red, brilliant, releasing hints of red fruit and raspberries on the nose that meet a slight spiciness towards the end, between pepper and cardamom. On the palate it is fresh, refined and dynamic, with a harmonious tannic perception and a mineral nuance. The result is an essential synthesis of pleasant mountain cleanliness and Mediterranean saltiness.