Old bush vines (60 – 100 years old) of organically grown Nerello Mascalese were hand harvested from vineyards located at high (800-950 metres altitude) on the northern face of Mt Etna, Sicily. Small quantities of Nerello Cappuccio and Alicante (Grenache) were present in the field blend. The grapes were destemmed by hand into several Georgian qvevris ranging from 1500 litres to 800 litres which have been buried underground in our cellar near Solicchiata.

Organically grown Nerello Mascalese grapes, from 60 – 100 year old bush vines, located at altitudes of 800-900 metres, on the northern face of Mt Etna were hand harvested along with small quantities of Nerello Cappuccio and Alicante (5% total). The grapes were destemmed by hand into several Georgian qvevris which have been buried underground. Fermentation was conducted by indigenous yeasts. Upon completion the qvevris were closed and left to macerate for different lengths of time depending on the rate of tannin extraction and the quality of the grape skins. On average the time on skins was two months. After the maceration period, the new wine from the three qvevris and their pressings were blended and returned to one large qvevri, until bottling in May 2016. The wine was bottled without fining or filtration.

Floral and expressive, this wine smells of red fruits, particularly morello cherries coupled with dry flowers. The palate is soft and silky, with a taut acidity and fine, textural tannins. The wine is flavoursome with an underlying minerality typical of the volcanic soils of Mt Etna.

Our second Qvevri wine made in a 2,000 litre Georgian Qvevri. Nerello Mascalese was hand harvested from our “Don Alfio” vineyard located at 900 metres above Rovitello. The fruit was 100% de-stemmed by hand into the Qvevri. Alcoholic fermentation lasted just over two weeks followed by malolactic fermentation. The Qvevri was then closed and the grapes were left to macerate until April 2014. The resultant wine was pressed and put in an old oak cask until bottling in September 2014. No SO2 was added. The wine was neither fined nor filtered prior to bottling.

Floral and expressive in the nose, this wine has a fine, textural structure. Morello cherries are coupled with cherry blossom. The palate is taut, complex and long.

This wine has attractive aromas of dark cherries and dried fruit with floral notes. The palate is spicy, with liquorice, chocolate and savoury undertones. It has a firm acid backbone which is balanced by a depth of flavour and well-structured tannins. In its youth, these tannins are mouth-filling and austere, with time, they will soften and integrate, becoming ethereal in nature.

The fifth qvevri wine to be released from our bio-dynamically farmed “Don Alfio” vineyard which is located at 900 metres above the village of Rovitello in the contrada Piano Filici. 90 – 100+ year old bush vines of Nerello Mascalese were hand harvested in the middle of October from this isolated 0.6 ha plot. There is also a small percentage of Nerello Cappuccio in the vineyard. 100% of the grapes were de-stemmed by hand into a 1000 litre Georgian qvevri which is buried in the underground cellar at the winery, near Solicchiata.

The third qvevri wine to be made from the “Don Alfio” vineyard situated at 900 metres above the village of Rovitello. Nerello Mascalese was hand harvested from this 0.6 hectare vineyard. The grapes were 100% de-stemmed by hand into the qvevri. Alcoholic fermentation was conducted by indigenous yeasts. The qvevri was then closed and allowed to macerate for nearly 5 months. It was pressed and returned to qvevri until bottling in September 2015. The wine was neither fined nor filtered.

Displaying aromas of dark cherries and forest fruit with some savoury undertones, this well-structured wine is complex with a firm acidity and fine, austere tannins.

The Q1000 “Tataraci” wine is made from a single, individual vineyard located in the contrada “Tataraci” at 1000 metres above the town of Randazzo. Old bush vines of Nerello Mascalese and Alicante (Grenache) were hand harvested and destemmed into a 1000 litre qvevri. Fermentation was by indigenous yeasts. The qvevri was closed and macerated for 4 months. It was then pressed and placed in a smaller qvevri until bottling in September 2015 without fining or filtering.

A distinct purple colour, this wines smells and tastes of blueberries and red currants. It has mouth-watering acidity, a juicy structure and fine, feminine tannins.