Etna Bianco, de Aetna, Terra Costantino

Owned and run by Dino Costantino with his son Fabio, this organic estate is located in Viagrande in Contrada Blandano. This is on the south-eastern slope of the mountain where wines tend to be somewhat softer, and they have 10 hectares of vineyards planted between 450m and 550m above sea level. The indigenous varieties of Etna are planted, Carricante supplemented by a small amount of Cataratto and Minella for the white and Nerello Mascalese with around 10% Nerello Capuccio for the red and rosé and they produce a mere 2,800 cases of wine a year. The vines are 35 years old and their density varies between 5,000 and 8,000 per hectare with the denser plots planted as bush vines. The winery was excavated under the vineyards to minimise its impact on the environment and in its walls, you can see the stratified history of volcanic eruptions over the millennia. All the wines here have power but also great aromatic purity.

Hand harvested and sorted. Pneumatically pressed. Cool fermented. Aged on the lees for 6 months.

The nose shows mineral notes, bruised apple and a whiff on wood smoke. The palate has richness and depth, but also taut structure and full acidity, making a wine of great poise and elegance.

Oysters. Bream. Hallibut.