Terrazze dell’Etna is not your average Sicilian winery—it’s a full-blown lava-fueled revival project launched in 2008 by Palermo-born engineer Nino Bevilacqua. With a little help from winemaking wizard Riccardo Cotarella, Nino transformed abandoned volcanic land into a high-altitude vine haven on Mt. Etna’s northwestern slopes. We’re talking up to 950 meters above sea level—nosebleed territory for vineyards.
Set across 36 dramatic hectares of terraces (yes, actual terraces carved into lava rock), the estate is surrounded by olive groves, cherry trees, and thick chestnut forests. But the main event? Native grape royalty Nerello Mascalese and its sidekick Nerello Cappuccio. Add a splash of international flair (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for bubblies) and you’ve got a sparkling revolution in the making.
Everything is done by hand, from pruning to picking, and farming practices are integrated to keep biodiversity buzzing. The result: wines with nerve, nuance, and the kind of minerality only a volcano can serve up.
Did You Know?
In the 1800s, Etna was already Italy’s bubbling secret, known for its “Etna Champagne.” Today, the high elevations and lava-infused soils give Chardonnay and Pinot Noir a sparkling second life, producing some of Italy’s most exciting Classic Method wines—mineral, fresh, and proudly volcanic.
Wines from Terrazze dell'Etna
