Mt. Etna is Terroir on Steroids

                           Only 2 seats remain on WineKnows' trip to Sicily this October

This is the second article of June's month-long tribute to Sicily.  Mt. Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, offers one of the most profound examples of terroir in the wine world.  Terroir, considered the complete natural environment in which a wine is produced, includes such factors as climate, soil, topography, and even pests.  Mt. Etna offers an overwhelming diversity of all of these terroir elements.  Its terroir is so utterly unique that Etna is basically a micro-continent within the island of Sicily.

                 Oranges, apples, figs & cherries also love Etna's mineral-laced volcanic soil

Mt. Etna is Europe’s highest active volcano.  At a height of nearly 11,000 feet, Etna is topped with snow many months of the year.  Grapes are grown up to about 4,000 feet.  Altitude is a major element involved in climate on Mt. Etna.  The higher the altitude the greater the difference in diurnal swing (the difference between day and night temperatures.)  Diurnal shift is a critical component in making all world-class wines, and the Etna vineyards have substantial diurnal variations.

Altitude is also responsible for another important part of Etna’s terroir in that exposure to sunlight is a function of altitude.  UV exposure increases about 4% with every 1,000 foot gain in elevation.  The intense sun ray’s falling on Etna’s mineral heavy soils create an interplay of light and reflection.  This sunlight exposure on Etna is unparalleled to any other wine area in Europe.  Etna’s extra hours of sun (>1,000 more per year than in Northern Italy) make for completely unique growing conditions.

                                        Lava-based soil provides nutrients & drainage

The soils on Mt. Etna are also unique.  Formed as a result of the process of cooling and crystallizing of volcanic super-heated magma, there is a high presence of minerals in the soil.   Mineral-laden earth effects the final wine product in terms of color, aromas and tastes.   Etna’s lava-based soil also promotes excellent drainage---a critical factor in quality wine.

                   Etna has many vines >100 years old as pests find it difficult to thrive here

Mt. Etna’s vineyards were one of the few in Europe that were not wiped out in the late 19^th century by Phylloxera.  One of the most destructive louses ever known to world-wide vineyards, Phylloxera for an unknown reason did not destroy the vines on Etna (although it did annihilate many of Sicily’s vineyards).    

                 Come learn more about Etna's magical terroir with Wine-Knows this October

Mt. Etna has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).  The volcano’s diverse terroirs have a monumental impact on Etna’s wines.   The following highly recommended wines are great examples of Etna’s terroir-in-a-glass, and all are worth every Euro of their bargain price:

• Cusumano Etna Bianco Alta Mora (white)

• Cantine Nicosia Etna Bianco Fondo Filara Contrada Monte Goma (white)

• Planeta Etna Bianco (white)

• Passopisciaro Contrada Sciaranuova (red)

• Firriato Etna Rosso Cavanera Rovo delle Cotumie  (red)

• Girolamo Russo Etna Rosso A Rina (red)

Most of these wines are available in the US and they are worth seeking out.  Or, you can join Wine-Knows this October when we'll be visiting Mt. Etna and sampling many of these wines during our ten day trip.