Wines from the Etna: Graci Wines – The Vineyard

One of our first stops in Etna was at Graci Wines. We met with owner and winemaker Alberto Graci in Passopisciaro, a small commune of about 500 people right at the feet of the Etna. Alberto after taking quick look at our rental car advised us to get into his old Land Rover, we were about to drive up the Etna to Contrada Barbabechi – Solicchiata Graci’s highest vineyard. It was a drive up a stone wall.

Barbabechi Solicchiata lies at an altitude of 1000 meters and it contains 2 hectares of incredible pre-phylloxera Nerello Mascallese planted about a 100 years ago. As you will hear Alberto explain, this vineyard lies on a lava flow around 800 years old. In this video, Alberto also brings attention to the reasons why the single parcel bottling of autochthonous varieties makes sense in the Etna region and how these parcels are classified and chosen. Watch and learn from this great region. Enjoy!

-JGA