Tornatore Etna Rosso

Currently one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Etna hides a rich Greek mythology. This was the location of Hephaestus’ furnaces, the god of forging and fire, and the birthplace of almost all metal objects with finely crafted powers like the aegis of Zeus, the famous belt of Aphrodite and the armor of Achilles. Aside from this mythological legacy, Etna has a significant winemaking tradition that dates back to even before the Greeks arrived. Francesco Tornatore reflects all this legacy and in 2010 he built a beautiful wine estate in the village of Castiglione di Sicilia, on the north side of the Etna volcano (Sicily), where his great-grandfather planted some of the island’s native varieties.

One of the wines he makes every year is Tornatore Etna Rosso, a red wine made from Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio vineyards. These are old vines planted on volcanic soil at an altitude of 650 metres above sea level. They are harvested and selected exclusively by hand when they reach optimum ripeness. Fermentation takes place with maceration in concrete tanks at a controlled temperature of 22-25°C for 10-12 days. The wine is then aged for 6 months in wooden barrels and another 3 months in the bottle before being sold.

The result is Tornatore Etna Rosso, a wine that isn’t easy to read but is very easy to enjoy. A complex DOC Etna Rosso that is just right for enjoying a rich historical legacy.