The winery
Passopisciaro
A winery on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, known for its bottled expression of Nerello Mascalese, produced from individual contrade under the guidance of Andrea Franchetti.
- Sicilia · Italia
- Since 2000
- 2 products
The story
The Passopisciaro project began with Andrea Franchetti’s restoration of terraces and old vineyards on Etna, starting in 2000. Franchetti restored abandoned farmhouses and terraces and revived the vocation of this slope of the volcano, focusing on enhancing the individual parcels and on expressing the territory.
Production philosophy
The production approach favors the expression of terroir and individual vineyard parcels: winemaking is designed to highlight differences in soil, altitude and exposure. In the vineyard, work focuses on old alberello-trained vines and on new planting densities, using techniques aimed at preserving each site's specific character; in the cellar, the approach is guided by measured interventions to reveal the minerality and freshness typical of volcanic soils.
Terroir and vineyards
Vineyards located on the northern slope of Mount Etna, within the territory of Castiglione di Sicilia and the village of Passopisciaro. The estate farms several contrade on volcanic soils, with vineyards planted at elevations of up to approximately 1,000 metres, producing wines characterized by minerality and straightforward fruit notes.
Awards and recognition
Passopisciaro wines have received high scores and positive reviews from international publications for vintages and single vineyards.
Characteristics
- Grape varieties
- Nerello Mascalese
- Chardonnay
- Petit Verdot
- Cesanese d'Affile
- Hectares
- 26.0
What makes it distinctive
- Specializing in Nerello Mascalese, with multiple labels tied to the individual contrade.
- High-altitude vineyards on volcanic soils
- A total of 26 hectares of vineyard, spread across several crus.
- Project led by Andrea Franchetti, a key figure in the revival of Etna's winemaking.
