Barone di Villagrande Etna Rosso 2023

The Etna Rosso is Barone di Villagrande’s classic expression of Nerello Mascalese, with a touch of Nerello Cappuccio. Grown on volcanic soils at elevations between 600 and 750 meters, the wine is marked by red cherry, strawberry, and rose petal aromatics. On the palate, fine tannins, fresh acidity, and a smoky mineral backbone create balance and refinement. Its versatile, elegant profile makes it ideal for roasted poultry, charcuterie, tomato-based pastas, and grilled vegetables.

Barone di Villagrande is one of Sicily’s most historic estates, with records of winemaking dating back to 1727. For ten generations, the Nicolosi family has stewarded this property in Milo on the southeastern slopes of Mount Etna, making it the longest continuously operating winery on the volcano. In fact, Barone di Villagrande was among the first producers to bottle wines under the Etna DOC when the denomination was created in 1968. Today, the estate remains a reference point for both Etna Bianco and Etna Rosso, combining traditional methods with sustainable viticulture and organic certification.

The estate’s vineyards cover about twenty hectares spread across Contrada Villagrande, Monte Arso, and Monte Ilice. All three sites sit between 600 and 750 meters above sea level, where the climate is Mediterranean yet tempered by altitude and the cooling breezes of both the sea and the volcano. The soils here are entirely volcanic in origin — sandy ash, basalt, and pumice deposited by centuries of eruptions. These porous, mineral-rich soils force vines to dig deep, producing low yields but wines of striking character. High elevation and dramatic day-to-night temperature shifts ensure bright acidity, aromatic complexity, and a style that is at once elegant and enduring.

Contrada Villagrande, the heart of the estate, is the only recognized zone for Etna Bianco Superiore. Its southeast-facing terraces produce wines of crystalline purity, driven by Carricante’s taut acidity and a salty, mineral finish that allows them to age for many years. Monte Ilice, by contrast, is a steep volcanic cone whose loose basaltic sands yield Nerello Mascalese of elegance and lift — red berries, florals, and linear structure define the wines from this dramatic site. Monte Arso, born of ancient lava flows, gives a darker, more savory interpretation. The Nerello Mascalese from this contrada shows cherries, spice, licorice, and volcanic smoke wrapped in firm structure and energy.

Together, these vineyards reflect the broader mosaic of Etna. Rising over 3,300 meters, Mount Etna is Europe’s highest active volcano and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Each eruption leaves behind soils of different ages and compositions, carving out the patchwork of contrade that are now likened to Burgundy’s climats. Here, Carricante and Nerello Mascalese find their truest expression: whites that are sharp, mineral, and long-lived, and reds often compared to Nebbiolo or Pinot Noir for their pale color, fine tannins, and capacity to age. Barone di Villagrande, with nearly three centuries of continuity, remains one of the estates most capable of telling Etna’s story through its vineyards and its wines.

The wines from the tasting lineup.  The regional Etna Bianco and Rosso are lovely mosaics of the regional character of Etna, both approachable, quaffable, Each is priced at 32/Bottle.

The Contrada bottlings are some of the most terroir expressive wines that you will find anywhere in Etna.  They are a significant step up in complexity from the Etna bottlings, The Contrada wines are elegantly structured, with amazing freshness, impressive length, and long aging potential.  Each Contrada bottling is 59/Bottle.