CAVANERA ETNEA:
THE ENERGY OF THE VOLCANO
A high-altitude viticulture bathed in full sunlight. A unique combination of conditions makes Etna’s viticulture a natural laboratory dedicated to excellence. Spanning 88 hectares along the northern quadrant of the volcano, with vineyards laid out on wide terraces and the slopes of ancient lava flows, Firriato has developed a recovery and enhancement project unlike any other in the entire Etna region.
Among these are a pre-phylloxera vineyard, an ancient farmhouse with two 17th-century wine presses, and vineyards climbing the slopes at elevations ranging from 540 to over 800 meters above sea level. The soils, classified as andisols with a silicon concentration exceeding 60%, are exceptionally porous, while the basaltic rocks of the pedological substrate create a “sponge effect,” providing plants with a constant water supply.
Here, thanks also to significant temperature variations between day and night and the presence of humidity, the remarkable enological potential of the volcano unleashes its silent energy. This manifests in its cherished varietals: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Catarratto, and Carricante. From these grapes, elegant and refined wines are crafted, including the Gaudensius Metodo Classico sparkling wines, the Contrada wines of the Cavanera line, the three classics Le Sabbie dell’Etna, and the pre-phylloxera Signum Aetnae.
Cavanera Etnea
Contrade
The winery’s vineyards are spread over 12 “Contrade” (districts), with very different soil and climatic characteristics that allow it to sustain a varied and always excellent production. The microbiological and microchemical nature of the lava flows differs greatly in its concentration of elements, not only in correspondence with a specific time band during which the magmatic activity took place, but also functionally in a certain area of the volcano affected by the eruptive phenomena. This gives rise to a very varied pathological picture and consequently a very varied supply of microelements, which both in viticulture and in enology, ensures a multiple reading of the terroir to which it belongs. This means that it is possible that the same vine can give rise to completely different wines depending on the areas, better called and known as the “districts” where the vineyards are located.

Cavanera Etnea
The vineyard
During the mild days of spring, when the skies are clear and the clouds dance around the summit of Etna, Firriato’s vineyards are resplendent in all their glory. Vine specimens that have been growing for hundreds of years— real natural sculptures— populate the terraces surrounding the antique palmento and are testimony of widespread vine cultivation even before the time of the phylloxera plague. Vineyards cover three different areas of the Cavanera Etnea Estate totalling an area of 84 hectares. Firriato’s main centre on Etna is on the North-East slope in Contrada Verzella at a height of 600m above sea level, while to the north at an altitude of 950m above sea level are the vineyards of Contrada Sant’Antonio and Contrada Montedolce.
MORE
Cavanera Etnea
The Palmento
The north east slope of Etna is characterised by a phenomenon of urbanisation which is evidenced by the important presence of small agricultural plots marked by antique farmhouses. The Di Gaetano family have decided to continue this legacy by returning the property in Contrada Verzella back to its former glory. The property consists of the main farmhouse and the palmento (an old word applied to the structure and the equipment contained within, for making wine), dating back to the 1700s, which contains the wooden wine press, the containment vats carved out from the rock, and the drainage channels which were made either from terracotta or hollowed out from the hard basalt rock. It is a precious example of a physical artefact linked to wine-making culture, and is testimony of a history which Firriato has restored and brought to life once again.


Cavanera Etnea
Terroir
Etna’s volcanic terrain is powerful because from a geological point of view it is a young cultivation area, capable of releasing a highly valuable supply of minerals. The extreme youth of the terrain makes it rich in elements such as iron, silica, aluminium, manganese and magnesium. The fertility of these soils is immense because their high mineral content is easily accessed by the plants’ roots—roots that in the sandy volcanic soil can reach a depth of several metres. This exponentially increases the absorbance of nutrients necessary for the plants’ productive cycle—a cycle which is also determined by the plants’ exposure.
MORE
Cavanera Etnea
Resort
The Cavanera Etnea Resort is a place to experience and discover the strong link the Di Gaetano family have with Etna. A place where they interpret its nature through scrupulous mountainside viticulture, bringing the volcano’s unique and distinctive oenological characteristics to the glass. It is the ideal location for a 360 degree experience in the sensorial universe of the wines produced in this enchanting setting. The resort is equipped with all the modern comforts for an elegant stay in an unspoilt natural landscape. A landscape to be explored and admired by taking an excursion in the Etna woods or up to the craters at the summit of the volcano.

Cavanera Etnea
Resort & Wine Experience
Address: Contrada Verzella, Castiglione di Sicilia, 95012 (CT)
Email: cavanera@firriatohospitality.it
Email: cavanera@firriatohospitality.it
Phone: 0942986182
Mobile: 3491691568
Whatsapp: 3499707884