Producer: Tenuta di Fessina
Grape: 90% Carricante, 10% Catarratto
Pronunciation: ‘cari-kante’
Region: Santa Maria di Licodia, Sicily
Zone: DOC Etna Bianco
Producer Info:
Tuscan wine producer Silvia Maestrelli, and Federico Curtaz bought Tenuta di Fessina on Etna’s northern slopes in 2007, part of the growing band of producers on this active volcano. From just a decade ago numbers have increased almost tenfold to around 40 wineries, all of whom make less than 3% of Sicily’s total production.
Erse is named after the Greek goddess of dew as a fitting tribMedium Bodied Whiteute to the time of day when this dew-kissed vineyard is the most picturesque. Carricante and indigenous grape varieties, Minnella and Catarratto, grown in the ancient volcanic soils of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Fermentation and ageing are both carried out in stainless, granting the grapes a fresh primary fruit and racy minerality of this unique terroir.
Tasting note: The result is brisk and mineral, tightly wound with high-altitude energy. Green plantain, lemon mint, ripe kiwi and crushed pear aromatics meet a racy, acid-driven palate that tightens on a long, saline finish. One of the more complete and expressive iterations of Erse Bianco, it hums with both flavour and focus.
Growing System: Bush
Soil Composition: Volcanic sandy loam
Production: Fermentation and aging are carried out in stainless steel tanks
Alcohol (%): 13%
