A cold climate and a soil full of ashes. You don’t need much more than that to make Tenuta delle Terre Nere San Lorenzo Etna Rosso DOC, one of the most special wines.
Grown in the San Lorenzo contrada, in the municipality of Randazzo (Catania province), this red wine comes from eight hectares of old vines, over 70 years old, planted on volcanic soils and at an altitude of 750 metres above sea level. As Marco de Grazia (the winery owner) points out, Tenuta delle Terre Nere is “an island within the island that is Etna.” And since Marco de Grazia landed on this island in 2002, he has managed to take full control of it.
Organic cultivation, sustainable energy and pruning are the principles that guide Marco de Grazia’s work in the vineyard. This is the only way it is possible to bring out the full essence and character of the eight hectares of vineyards lying on the north face of Etna. In fact, the San Lorenzo contrada marks the border of the D.O.C. Etna Rosso to the northwest, and is the coldest in the area.
After the harvest, which takes place in the first half of October, Tenuta delle Terre Nere San Lorenzo Etna Rosso DOC is brought to the winery and vatted, preparing for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. In both phases (more so in the second than in the first), wood and French oak barrels are key. Tenuta delle Terre Nere San Lorenzo Etna Rosso DOC ages for about 14 months in these same containers. Then it spends another month in stainless steel tanks. You won’t want to miss out!