GRAPES: Carricante PRODUCTION ZONE: Eastern Sicily, north side of Etna, between Randazzo and Castiglione di Sicilia. TERRAINS & CLIMATE: altitude from 730 to 750 m a.s.l.; the composition of the sandy texture lavic soil offers a subacid-neutral reaction, with good organic endowment. Deep, rich in minerals, the lavic soil allows strong root growth. This area of the north of the volcano is characterized by precipitations lower than the average of the other slopes of Etna. Summers are cool, characterized by strong temperature changes between day and night. VINEYARD: alberello or VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning. Density of about 4,500 plants per hectare with a yield of from 4.5 to 6.5 tons/ha (1.8 tons-2.6 tons/acre). VINTAGE: on Etna 2018 was a cooler and rainier vintage than the last two vintages; a typical Etna vintage with rainfall recorded in spring and summer, quite usual for vineyards located higher than 700 m. above sea level; in particular, some rainfall between mid-August and early September exalted freshness and aromas. On this side of the volcano the following weeks were dry; this climatic factor together with the choice of performing some cluster thinning favored the desired ripening and regular harvesting. The 2018 white wines are particularly fragrant with excellent acid structure. HARVEST: manual harvesting of grapes into crates with careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard. The Carricante harvest began on 26/9 and concluded in a few days. VINIFICATION: fermentation in stainless steel, at a temperature of 14-16°C. Aging partly in tanks and partly in French oak (second and third passage barriques) for 10 months and then at least 9 months in bottle before release. ANALYSIS: alcol 12.18 % Vol. – total acidity 6.2 g/l - pH 3.32

• GRAPES: Carricante - Carricante is an ancient white grape variety cultivated on the slopes of Etna.
• PRODUCTION ZONE: Eastern Sicily, north side of Etna, between Randazzo and Passopisciaro.
• TERRAINS & CLIMATE: altitude from 730 to 750 m a.s.l.; the composition of the sandy texture lavic soil offers a subacid-neutral reaction, with good organic endowment. Deep, rich in minerals, the lavic soil allows strong root growth. This area of the north of the volcano has a "climatic pocket" characterized by precipitations lower than the average of the other slopes of Etna. Summers are cool, characterized by strong temperature changes between day and night.
• VINEYARD: Alberello or VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning. Density of about 4,500 plants per hectare with a yield of from 4.5 to 6.5 tons/ha (1.8 tons-2.6 tons/acre).
• VINTAGE: In the 2017 vintage, overall, there was 678 mm of rainfall*, less than the average (788 mm), recorded on the north side of Etna. However, it should be noted that, during almost the entire month of January, snow covered the vineyards, slowly releasing a significant supply of water into the ground. Green pruning – carried out between June and July – aimed to define the vegetation-production balance allowing the vegetative cycle to finish regularly and to give rise to very healthy grapes. Overall, the harvest saw a slight drop in quantity compared to the company’s average. 2017 vintage presents a quality that reaches peaks of excellence: the wines are characterized by extreme cleanliness, freshness and aromatic intensity. (* AGRICULTURAL YEAR: for Etna / Randazzo it is considered from 1 November until October 31st; PRECIPITATION: they are rewoven by SIAS, Sicilian Agrometeorological Service, and their average is calculated in Randazzo since 2007.)
• HARVEST: manual harvesting of grapes into crates with careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard. The high summer temperatures resulted in ripening about 10 days earlier than the traditional grape ripening period in this territory: thus the Carricante harvest started on 22/9 and concluded on 25/9.
• VINIFICATION: Fermentation in stainless steel, at a temperature of 14-16°C. Aging partly in tanks and partly in French oak (second and third passage barriques) for 10 months and then at least 9 months in bottle before release.
• ANALYSIS: alcol 12.65 % Vol. – Total acidity 5.7g/l - pH 3.25