The Mountain Viticulture of the Etna Volcano
On the Etna Volcano, Firriato produces wines representing the authentic expression of a unique land in the winescape
The Soil
Basaltic rocks and fine sea sand
The value of a winery such as Firriato, is basedon the development ability of an enhancement project including as well as the safeguard of a precious pre philloxera vineyard and the recovery of two ancient seventeeth-century Palmento. The volcanic soils of the Etna are quite easy to recognise because of its sandy texture. Firriato‘s vineyards are located between 650m and 950m a.s.l. These soils can be included in the order of the andisols containing high percentage of glass and showing remarkable dreinage ensuring a balanced water recovery for vines. We talk about a young land suitable for offering great minerals such as: iron, glass, alluminium, manganese, magnesium making Etna wines extraordinary flavorful.
The Terroir
A mineral and natural treasure
The Cavanera Etnea estate is located in the Contrada Verzella on the nort-east slope of the volcano, where viticultural practices are carried out in the middle of Mediterranean fringe. Vineyards are exposed in terraces or along ancient lava flow amounting to 50 ha benefitting from extraordinary fertility. Significantly, there is also considerable sun influence. Few precipitations over the summer season are compensated by considerable variation between day and night-time temperatures generating dew in the morning, preventing vine diseases and backing certified organic vinegrowing.
Vines
Etna varieties ensure the combination between energy and elegance in Etna wines
The energy of the volcano has been wisely expressed in the vine varieties which Firriato grows such as Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Mascales for red grapes and Carricante, Catarratto and Minnella for white grapes. Etna wines are able to express all the beauty and uniqueness of this land, such as the Cavanera Rovo della Coturnie and Cavanera Ripa di Scorciavacca. Other interesting blends could be Le Sabbie dell’Etna, in the red and white versions and last but not least we can point out the two traditional sparkling method: Gaudensius Blanc de Noir and Gaudensius Blanc de Blancs.
