Graci Etna Rosato Mount Etna Doc Sicily 2019
SKU
GRRO201911 UCAU
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Alberto Aiello Graci has been making wine on Sicily's Mount Etna since 2004
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The region of Etna Rosso, famous for its black lava soils and elegant red wines made from the Nerello Mascalese and Cappuccio grapes, has been undergoing a revival since 2000
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This fresh, vibrant Rose is perfect for summer
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1 or more bottles$39.99
Editors notes
Graci, Sicily. Alberto Aiello Graci has been making wine on Sicily's Mount Etna since 2004, the year he returned from his apprenticeship as a Milan banker, picking up the baton with 5 hectares of family land, 2 hectares of which is vineyards (the rest polycultural activities).
The region of Etna Rosso, famous for its black lava soils and elegant red wines made from the Nerello Mascalese and Cappuccio grapes, has been undergoing a revival since 2000, lured by juicy EU grants and spectacular scenery. Once carpeted with vines - the fruit of which was allegedly used to in bulk to prop up the wines of the Langhe and of Burgundy - it has now become an artisan's playground, a mix of hobbyist and commercial winegrowers.
This pale, slightly orange-hued rose is made from 100% Nerello Mascalese, a grape often considered the Pinot Noir of Sicily. The fruit comes from Alberto Graci’s Arcuria vineyard, located at 600 metres above sea-level. Temperatures are cooler here and the grapes benefit from a slow, extended ripening – developing aromas of wild flowers and mandarin, with slightly savoury tones on the finish. A serious rosé, it is matured in cement and spends six months on the lees for added complexity. Drink now to 2021.
Details
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Wine Type
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Light (Light)Full (Full)
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Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
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Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
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Aroma
- Earthy
- Red Fruits
- Smoky
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Palate
- Earthy
- Savoury
- Smoky
Food Pairings
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Game -
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Red Meat
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Locations
Italy
Italy has some of the oldest wine production methods in the world and almost every part of the country is planted under vine. From the Alps in the north to the very southernmost parts of Sicily where Africa is almost in sight, wine is successfully cultivated. In addition to the latitude covered, Italy's many mountains and hills provide a plethora of altitudes for grape growing in various soils and micro-climates. The extensive coastlines along the peninsula that is Italy provide maritime climates for the coastal wine-growing areas. Over 350 grape varieties are 'authorised' in Italy, though up to 550 varieties are thought to be grown.
The classification system of Italian wines has four classes, with the intention of defining a wine's origin a quality. Two of these classes are table wines, whilst DOC and DOCG fall under the EU quality wine produced in a specific region category. Vino da Tavola (VDT) means that the wine comes from Italy. Most of these wines are generally basic table wines that are consumed domestically. Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) denotes a more specific region within Italy, and the resultant will be of higher quality than simple table wines, but won't conform to the rules required for higher certification. Both Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) are regionally more specific than IGT, and have stricter rules regarding the grape varieties grown, yields per hectare, minimum alcohol levels and so on. The major difference between DOC and DOCG is that the latter has to undergo a blind-tasting session to ensure the highest quality is achieved. Italy has 32 DOCG appelations, 311 DOC appelations and 120 IGT zones.
Key regions include Piedmont, Tuscany, Abruzzo, Veneto, Sicily and Sardinia. Common white varieties grown are Pinot Grigio, Arneis, Vermentino, Verdicchio, Fiano and Moscato. The red varieties grown the most are Sangiovese, Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Montepulciano, Primitivo, Nero d'Avola and Corvina.
Sicily
According to Greek legend, the god of wine Dionysus was the first to have planted a vineyard in Sicily; kick-starting the viticulture of the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It's one of the biggest wine-producing regions in Italy with Veneto and Emilio Romagna the only two Italian regions that produce more. In all, the island has an impressive 134,000 hectares under vine although this area is shrinking year by year. This region produces a wide range of wines, both table and dessert wines and the grapes most famously grown there are the Nero d’Avola and Catorrato varietals. Nerello Mascalese is used to make the Etna Rosso DOC wine from the volcanic Mt Etna and Frappato is a the main grape of the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG.
Sicily is blessed with the most favourable climate. The summers are hot and it hardly rains, and the winters are not that cold and frost is rare. The Mediterranean climate is ideal for growing wine grapes as the coastal winds drying out grapes overnight. Because of the warm and relatively dry climate, there are less risk of rot and mildew among the grapes, so chemical sprays are rarely used. The soil of Sicily is rocky and enriched with minerals that absorb the heat during the day and release it at night, which helps the grapevines maintain an even temperature while the air around it gets cooler.
About the brand Graci
Alberto Aiello Graci has been making wine on Sicily's Mount Etna since 2004. The estate's vineyards are undoubtedly some of the most representative of Etna, extending across the Contradas of Arcuria, Feudo di Mezzo, Barbabecchi, Moganazzi and Santo Spirito, whilst the winery itself is closer to the village of Passopisciaro.
The Graci vines are 50 year old free-standing 'alberello' vines at 1000 metres above sea level that produce naturally low yields amid the black grainy, volcanic soils. Alberto prefers to tend his vines as naturally as possible and Fermentation takes place in a combination of large cement and Austrian Stockhinger oak casks.
The wines are both elegant and show off the Mt Etna terroir, which has in the last 15 years rocketed to a global sensation.
'Etna is a special place,' says Graci, citing 3 reasons. First, it has the sun of Sicily but a climate moderated by altitude. Second, it has volcanic soils. Third, it has old ungrafted vineyards.
"The wine must be born of the territory and at the same time reflect the character of the vintage" Alberto and Elena Graci.
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