Tuesday 15 November 2016

Volcanic wines



At a recent wine tasting, my host was in raptures over a wine that had been made from grapes that had been grown in the soils of Mount Etna. Ash clouds and lather spewing everywhere can have its up sides as I was about to discover.

Here are two that you should try.





Etna Bianco 2013, Contrada da Arcuria, Graci, Sicily, £29.50, Berry Bros. & Rudd (bbr.com)
This wine carries in its name the place where it originated from, Mount Etna. Made entirely from carricante, an ancient white grape, this creamy citrus-drenched number will set your taste buds alight. A zappy well-structured wine, it has an almost herbal flavour to it. It is elegant and classy. A wonderful example of a wine grown on a volcano. 






Etna Rosato 2014, Graci, Passopisciaro, Sicily, £16.95, Berry Bros. & Rudd (bbr.com) Made from 100 per cent nerello mascalese, known as the black grape of Etna. Salmon pink in colour, this berry-drenched wine is refined and sophisticated. This is a real palate-pleaser. 

 By Daralyn Danns