Benanti - Etna Rosso 2022

Winemaking in the Benanti family can be traced back to the late 1800s in Viagrande. This deep-rooted passion for wine is what led Giuseppe Benanti to establish the namesake winery in 1988. Located on Mount Etna, “an island within the island” of Sicily, the Benanti family produces wines using 100% native grapes – Carricante, Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. With vineyards positioned on four different slopes of the Etna volcano: North, East, South-East and South-West, the climatic influence and volcanic soils from each slope combine to create territorial wines with a “sense of place.” After 25 years at the forefront of the winery and greatly contributing to the development and growth of the whole region, Giuseppe passed the torch to his sons in 2012, Antonio and Salvino.

Grapes selected from vineyards located on the North, South-east and South-west slopes of Mount Etna.

Nerello Mascalese (c.80-85%), Etna’s noble red grape variety, and Nerello Cappuccio (c.15-20%) grown on sandy, volcanic soils that are rich in minerals, with sub-acid reaction. Vines range in age from 10 to 60 years and are trained in both “alberello” (head-trained bush) and spurred cordon systems, with densities of 6,000 to 8,000 vinestocks per hectare and yields of 7,000 to 8,000 kg/ha. Vineyards vary in elevation from 450 m (c. 1,500 ft) to 900 m (c. 2,950 ft) a.s.l. The climate type ranges from high hill to mountain, with a humid and rainy cooler season, high ventilation, luminosity and a significant diurnal range.

Grapes are harvested by hand in October and de-stemmed. The two varieties are vinified separately. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature, with medium-length maceration, with the aid of Benanti’s own indigenous yeast, which was selected from local vineyards through years of research and experimentation in the cellar. Nerello Cappuccio matures only in stainless steel. About 80% of the Nerello Mascalese matures in stainless steel, while the remaining 20% matures in second-passage French oak barriques for 8-10 months. After bottling, the wine refines for 2-3 months.

The wine has a pale ruby red color. The nose is ethereal and intense with hints of red fruits. The palate is dry and mineral with pleasant acidity and salinity, persistent and harmonious.

"The 2022 Etna Rosso wafts up with a perfumed blend of rosy florals and hints of juniper berry. This is vividly fruit-focused, with a wave of ripe wild berries and sweet spices that flow across a stream of brisk acidity. It leaves a staining of primary concentration and mildly grippy tannins to resonate as violet inner florals slowly fade. While more extroverted than expected, the 2022 is a total pleasure to taste and maintains fantastic balance.” - 90 Points, Vinous

Producer: Benanti 

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

Varietal: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio

Appellation: Etna Rosso

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml