Palmento Costanzo 2021 Etna DOC Bianco di Sei, Sicily

From bush-trained vines up to 100 years old, located on the North side of the volcano. Grown in soils that are a mixture of volcanic sand and rocks, the grapes come from two Contrada (there are 133 of these defined growing areas in the Etna DOC) - Santo Spirito and Passopisciaro (literally, to walk (passo) on the lava flow (pisciaro)).

Vine to Bottle: Steep, terraced vineyards are hand harvested, grapes are softly pressed, then natural yeast fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks and the wine rests on the lees for 10 months in tank and 8 months in bottle prior to release.

Tasting Notes: Straw yellow color indicates a complex and rich wine. Thie nose confirms this conclusion, with a complex bouquet of white flowers, citrus fruits and aromatic herbs with a slight hint of petrol. The wine's palate experience is pleasingly fresh and persistent, with a long and refreshing finish.

The Label: Note the texture on dark half of this black-and-white label - it is actual volcanic ash from Mt Etna!

"Palmento" is an old Sicilian word for winery - one of many in Italy (Tenuta, Fattoria, Cantina...). In the case of Costanzo, the Palmento was discovered in a state of decay and ruin and brought to modern efficiency through heroic efforts by the Costanzo family, their design team and contractors. Fitting modern winemaking equipment into a historic building required creative problem-solving at every turn and the interior is as beautiful as it is tightly fit into every nook and cranny.

Now fully restored, the building's exterior is made of lava stones that house a 4-story, gravity-fed winemaking facility. It is now run by Valeria Costanzo and her daughter Serena and an excellent team of local professionals lead by Sicilian winemaker Nicola Centonze. Farming is certified organic, and the entire winery has been recognized by the prestigious Equalitas Certification Program for its low environmental impact and virtuous social and economic practices.