Passopisciaro

In 2000, before Etna and its ancient vineyards become a place of pilgrimage by winemakers, and home to a new generation of wineries, Andrea Franchetti, prominent figure of italian wine, decided that he would create an estate on the slopes of the volcano. Passopisciaro winery was created, with 16 hectares in the town of Castiglione di Sicilia, on the north side of Etna, at about a thousand meters altitude, where he vinified grapes from old and very old vines from the area. The first wine produced at Passopisciaro was a Nerello Mascalese; extraordinary mineral depth that characterizes the great wines of Etna. Andrea's vision moved forward with the planting of high-altitude vineyards in order to dramatically reduce the yields with no risk of overripeness or excessive alcohol. Franchetti makes eight different wines at Passopisciaro, with six focused on the grape Nerello Mascalese. The wine Passorosso is a holistic rendering of the grape that is unique and ever-present on the volcano, blending from different altitudes and terroirs. In 2005, Franchetti began making a striking red, to which he gave his own name Franchetti, made with the grapes Petit Verdot and Cesanese d’Affile. He produced his first white Guardiola Bianco, now Passobianco, in 2007, a 100% Chardonnay planted at 850-1,000 metres above sea level. In 2009, he started producing wines that are named Contrade Etna: Porcaria, Guardiola, Chiappemacine, Sciaranuova, Rampante. — each come from vineyards of different ages and are each on a lava flow with different minerals, grain size, and altitudes.