In the Caldera Sottana contrada, on the northern side of Etna (in Sicily), there are currently two plots over 140 years old that survived phylloxera. It was 1881 when this insect, which arrived directly from America, began to attack all the roots of the vines, almost completely drying up all the vineyards in the Old World. However, it seems that these 0.8 hectares in southern Italy, planted on volcanic soils, resisted, becoming a small bastion that is completely unique. A real gem. Likewise, all this would not have been possible without the work of Don Peppino, the farmer who took care of them for more than 70 years. As a tribute to him and to these three centuries of history, Tenuta delle Terre Nere produces Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Etna Rosso.
There are not many reds in the world like Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Etna Rosso DOC. It is made entirely with Nerello Mascalese, a red variety that usually lives on the northern slopes of Etna, at an altitude of 600 metres above sea level. The shallow volcanic soils, with traces of ash, are the perfect home for these old vines. All cultivation is organic. It would be a shame to spoil these centuries-old grapes, wouldn’t it?
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Etna Rosso DOC is harvested in the first half of October, with great care. All these clusters are taken to the winery, where they will be selected and processed to be vatted and begin alcoholic fermentation. First it is the yeast’s turn (obviously), but then the lactic acid bacteria also comes into play, converting malic acid into lactic acid. This is known as malolactic fermentation and in the case of Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Etna Rosso DOC, it happens in French oak barrels. Finally, Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Etna Rosso DOC is aged for 14 months in the same wood, followed by another month in stainless steel tanks.
If you could drink history it would surely be found in a sip of Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Etna Rosso DOC.