The Wine: Don Pippinu Etna Rosso 2019

Vini Scirto Don Pippinu Etna Rosso is a red wine made from Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio grapes grown near active volcano Mount Etna, Northeastern Sicily, Italy. This is a natural wine fermented spontaneously with native yeasts, aged 12 months in big and small neutral oak barrels, and then aged 6 months in the bottle.

Vini Scirto Don Pippinu is unfined and unfiltered, a small quantity of sulfur is added upon bottling. Notes of rhubarb and cassis on the nose, firm tannins and good acidity on the palate. Pair with meat-based dishes or hearty pastas.

The Producer: Vini Scirto

Vini Scirto winery is owned and managed by Giuseppe Scirsto and Valeria Franco. Giuseppe's grandfather and grandmother always made wine and would take him along to help in the vineyards. Together they would take a train to Passopisciaro, near Mount Etna, to tend and harvest Nerello Mascalese bush vines. Giuseppe named his Etna Rosso 'A Culonna (the column in Sicilian dialect) to honor the column-like monument made of volcanic rock around which he and his grandfather would gather, together with the whole village, after a long day in the vineyards.

The Region: Sicily

Sicily is Italy’s biggest island and also its biggest region. It’s separated from the mainland by the Strait of Messina (Stretto di Messina). The capital of Sicily is Palermo, a majestically decadent multicultural city offering one of the richest culinary traditions in Italy.

Sicily’s history and culture are fascinating, to say the least. Their complexity is manifest in the diverse architecture of its cities. All over the region and particularly in Palermo we can find Arab, Greek, Roman, and Spanish influences in the layout of the city as well as in the food and local language.

Sicily is the third biggest producing country in Italy, behind Veneto and Tuscany. The quality of Sicilian wines has increased steadily in the past 30 years. Some international grape varietals - mainly chardonnay and syrah - have found a place in Sicilian viticulture, traditionally dominated by native varietals such as Nero d’Avola, Catarratto, Grillo, and Inzolia.

The Terroir of Sicily

Sicily proximity to Northern Africa and position right at the center of the Mediterranean reflect deeply on its climate. Endless sunshine, moderate rainfalls, and good aeration characterize pretty much the whole region with minor seasonal variations. Palm trees and other tropical plants and fruits are a fairly common sight in Sicily all year round.

Among the several benefits of this climate one stands out: in Sicily, grapes can grow without being imperiled by mildew, rot, or any other disease brought by too much humidity. Sicilian grapes are generally speaking naturally healthy, hence the substantial number of certified organic or biodynamic wineries.

The Red Wines of Sicily

The most widely planted red grape varietal in Sicily is Nero d'Avola, which accounts for about 20% of the total regional wine production. Frappato is another prominent red varietal, used to make the only DOCG wine in Sicily, Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG.

Less common but typical of Sicily are Alicante, similar to Grenache, Nocera, and Perrone, often blended with Nero d'Avola. On the slopes of the active volcano Mount Etna, Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio are key red grape varietals in the popular Etna DOC appellation.

The White Wines of Sicily

Marsala and Passito di Pantelleria are perhaps the most famous Sicilian white wines, although their popularity has been waning over the years in favor of dry and refreshing white wines made from native varietals Inzolia and Grillo are fairly easy to find in the United States and generally very good.

In a similar way to Umbria, the Central Italian region known for the red tannic wine Sagrantino di Montefalco, Chardonnay has found its place also in Sicily. Chardonnay from Sicily can vary in quality depending on the producer.

On Primal Wine we sell one of the few 100% Chardonnay vinified with extended skin-contact in the style of an Orange Wine made by the excellent Marabino winery from organically farmed grapes.