2019 Tenuta Di Fessina Etna Bianco ‘Erse’

Producer: Tenuta di Fessina

Grape: 80% Carricante, 10% Catarratto and 10% Minnella

Pronunciation: ‘cari-kante’

Region: Santa Maria di Licodia, Sicily

Zone: DOC Etna Bianco

Producer Info: 

Tuscan wine producer Silvia Maestrelli, and Federico Curtaz bought Tenuta di Fessina on Etna’s northern slopes in 2007, part of the growing band of producers on this active volcano.  From just a decade ago numbers have increased almost tenfold to around 40 wineries, all of whom make less than 3% of Sicily’s total production.

Erse is named after the Greek goddess of dew as a fitting tribMedium Bodied Whiteute to the time of day when this dew-kissed vineyard is the most picturesque. Carricante and indigenous grape varieties, Minnella and Catarratto, grown in the ancient volcanic soils of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Fermentation and ageing are both carried out in stainless, granting the grapes a fresh primary fruit and racy minerality of this unique terroir.

Tasting note:

Straw-yellow with green hues, this wine is delicate and elegant with crisp aromas of pear and hay. A savory, saline note underpins the drinking experience and vibrant acidity keeps the wine enormously refreshing. Expect a long, textural finish.

Growing System: Bush

Soil Composition: Volcanic sandy loam

Production: Fermentation and aging are carried out in stainless steel tanks

Alcohol (%): 13%