Collection: Nerello Mascalese

Nerello Mascalese is a red grape variety with roots in Sicily, and it is precisely from here that all our wines made from this variety come. The heartland of the grape is northeastern Sicily around Messina and Catania, where the vineyards climb up the slopes of the Etna volcano at altitudes of up to 1,000 metres. The cool climate at these heights suits a variety that ripens late and needs time to unfold perfectly. The grape is also grown in the provinces of Palermo and Agrigento, as well as on the other side of the Strait of Messina in Calabria.

Genetically, Nerello Mascalese belongs to the extended Sangiovese family. DNA analyses suggest that it is a natural cross between Sangiovese and Mantonico Bianco, making it a sibling of Gaglioppo. The variety shows great variation with several different biotypes. The grapes are oval and pale blue and can range from medium-small to large depending on the biotype, while the bunches are small, long and conical with wings.

In the glass, Nerello Mascalese typically yields pale wines, because the content of colour pigments (anthocyanins) is low. This is part of the grape's charm: the wines from Etna often resemble light, elegant red wines more than dark, dense types. The tannins have a green and firm character even at full ripeness, and for this reason winemakers like to work with short macerations and controlled temperature during fermentation in order to find the balance.

In terms of flavour, these are dry red wines with herbal, mineral notes and a hint of tobacco. On Etna, Nerello Mascalese most often appears together with Nerello Cappuccio in the Etna Rosso DOC appellation, where the two varieties complement each other: Mascalese's low colour meets Cappuccio's softer tannin structure. The variety is also permitted in Sicilian DOCs such as Contea di Sclafani and Sambuca di Sicilia, as well as in Calabrian DOCs such as Lamezia.

If you want to explore the volcanic wines from Etna, Nerello Mascalese is an obvious place to start. With us you will find exclusively Sicilian bottles that let you taste the terroir from Italy's largest volcano.