Nerello Mascalese: the Pinot Noir of the volcano
It grows on Etna's lava. It smells of ash and cherry. It's Italy's coolest grape.
There's a grape that grows at 1000 meters on solidified lava. It's called Nerello Mascalese and it's rewriting Italian wine's rules.
🌋 The impossible terroir
Temperature swings of 20°C between day and night. Basalt, pumice and ash soil. Century-old bush vines. The result? A red that looks Burgundian: transparent, elegant, with minerality that tastes of volcanic rock.
👃 In the glass
Red cherry. Pomegranate. Mediterranean herbs. And that unmistakable note: volcanic ash, smoke, wet flint. No other grape tastes of volcano like Nerello.
🍽️ At the table
Grilled bluefin tuna. Pasta alla Norma. Sicilian pecorino. Surprise: it works beautifully with sushi.
🏷️ 3 bottles
Discovery: Etna Rosso DOC (~18 CHF)
Contrada: Etna Rosso with contrada (~30 CHF)
The jewel: Etna Rosso Riserva (~50+ CHF)