Alta Mora farms high on the northern slope of Etna, where the vineyards sit in dark volcanic ash and the vines are old enough to have seen a few eruptions. Etna Bianco DOC is a small appellation, and Carricante is its backbone, a grape that grows almost nowhere else in the world.
- Carricante, the white grape of Etna.
- Etna Bianco DOC, Sicily's volcanic appellation.
- 2022, a warm vintage across Sicily.
- 12.5% alcohol, dry, high acidity.
- Medium body, low tannin.
How it is made
Carricante is grown on the slopes of Etna, on soils that are mostly volcanic ash and lava sand. The appellation rules require the wine to be made predominantly from Carricante, with only a small share of other permitted white grapes. Alta Mora works the northern side of the mountain, where the altitude keeps the fruit fresh and the acidity high.
How it tastes
Bright yellow in the glass. Ripe apple and white flowers come first, then lemon icing and a note of ginger. Citrus, green apple and white peach sit on the palate, with a saline minerality and a flinty, volcanic edge. The finish is spicy and rich, held up by the high acidity.
Good to know
Etna is one of Europe's most active volcanoes, and the vineyards are replanted in places where lava has flowed. Carricante is an old variety, but Etna Bianco only became a DOC in 2000, so the appellation is younger than most of the vines inside it.
