Passopisciaro Contrada Guardiola Terre Siciliane IGP 2024

Contrada Guardiola 2024 is 100% Nerello Mascalese from the northern side of Etna. The vineyard is located about 800 meters above sea level, just below Passopisciaro's winery, and the old alberello-trained vines reach an impressive age of around 140 years.

Guardiola, with its approximately seven hectares, is Passopisciaro's largest contrada. The soil is about 15,000 years old and consists of pure volcanic ash from pyroclastic deposits. The combination of the extremely old vines, the altitude, and the unique volcanic soil gives Guardiola its distinct expression.

The aroma is intense and complex with red and dark berries, violet and lavender, spicy herbs, and notes of smoke, crushed stone, and a hint of orange peel. The taste is elegant and silky with juicy fruit, lively acidity, and a pronounced mineral nerve. Despite its intensity, Guardiola has an almost light and lifted character with a long, fresh, and spicy finish.

Guardiola showcases a particularly elegant side of Nerello Mascalese, where the grape's finesse and floral character meet Etna's raw volcanic terroir. It is a wine with both intensity and precision, but without heaviness.

2024 offered a warm and dry summer, where especially the high-altitude vineyards delivered beautiful and generous grapes. The harvest of the red grapes began on October 3rd, and the producer highlights the vintage's balance between fullness, tannins, acidity, and alcohol.

A fascinating single-vineyard interpretation of Etna's truly ancient volcanic soil.