Tenuta delle Terre Nere

We are on the northern slopes of Etna, in the hilly strip that extends between Solicchiata and Randazzo, historically the area of choice for Nerello Mascalese, a demanding and difficult native vine, but capable of restoring great emotions in the glass, with wines of rare elegance and complexity and with macro differences based on the districts (sub-areas or crus, however you prefer) of origin. Here stands the prestigious Tenuta delle Terre Nere of Marc De Grazia, a man from another era, visionary, pioneering, in short, "a volcano upon a volcano" who boasts a twenty-year history on the "great mountain".  Here he knows every terrace and slope, a story of passion guided by the entrepreneurial instinct common to a few vignerons. We want to remember that Marc De Grazia, now naturalized Marco, American by birth, was the one who in the early 1990s led that handful of rebellious winemakers, called  "Barolo Boys", to explore and invade (commercially) American soil with the innovative (and for many blasphemous) Barolo aged in barrique. Today Marc's company represents an incredible heritage, with vineyards that have their roots in the great volcano with the age of the vines ranging between 50 and 100 years, up to the mother vineyard which is over 140 years old, a Cru of approximately one hectare , survived phylloxera, an absolute "free-footed" rarity. The property consists of over 55 hectares fragmented into 24 plots, in six districts. 2002 is the year of the first commercialized harvest, also remembered because on the back label there is an unmistakable writing: "the "Burgundy of the Mediterranean". Marc immediately understands that here there are particular geographical, climatic and geological conditions, unique and unrepeatable starting from the high altitudes, with vineyards that start from 400 meters above sea level and reach above 1000 (a variability unique in the world); all characterized by temperature variations between day and night which in summer record a difference of up to 30 degrees. Absolutely beneficial element for the vineyard. Add to this the unique characteristics of the volcanic soils, in continuous movement and mutation, which have occurred over the millions of years of life of the volcano. Organically run since 2010, the company pursues a sustainable and environmentally friendly philosophy, which leads to obtaining labels in which everything that nature has created is valued and exalted. Reds, Whites and Rosés are wines that, like few others, tell the true essence of Etna, underlining all the best peculiarities of the volcanic terroir and which represent a true rarity.