Vine Cycle Wine Selections™ - Representing regions, appellations and family wineries

Mt. Etna

Cantina Calcaneus

Mt. Etna is growing... This growth did not happen over a long period of time nor as far back as 1669 or 1852 - but, in fact most recently. According to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Mt. Etna has grown 100 feet since the start of 2021.

Yes you can expect evolution from a mountain which spouts gas and lava that originate inside the earth's crust.  Mt. Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe and home to the Mt. Etna DOC now stands at 3357m = 11,013’.   

The acclaimed wines of Calcaneus have also evolved. Located on the Northeast side and produced at Cantina Calcagno and named after the 2 brothers Gianni & Franco Calcagno who make wine and have grown grapes on Etna, in the village of Passopisciaro for 6 Generations.   Along with an Etna Bianco Ginestra and Romice del Sciare Rosato the 2 contrade they produce are Feudo di Mezzo and Arcuria.  For those who have not had the opportunity to taste these organic, 70-90 year old vine wines from a traditional 90 /10 blend of Nerello Mascalese & Nerello Cappuccio they have aromatics and body more toward the North of Italy and other mountainous regions in Europe. While both wines are vinified in stainless and aged in 20hl botti Feudo di Mezzo is traditionally more red fruit, aromatic nose and concentrated with dark fruit on the palate.  Arcuria opens up with spice and minerality and moves to red fruit.  Due to Arcuria's more sandy soil the wines have less weight and a fine tannic finish.

Hillside vineyards of Etna overcome the many challenges of the 2017 vintage.   While extreme events such as wildfires occurred in parts of Southern Italy and unfortunately, all of Italy was affected by frost, vineyards at higher altitudes were mostly spared. While it was a dry vintage, August had precipitation equal to rainfall averages for past 6 years and temperatures were near normal.  With vineyards at 650m and higher it is the altitude which ensures their success in a vintage like 2017.