Nicosia Contrada Monte Gorna Etna Bianco 2020 (750ml)

Founded in 1898 on the slopes of Mt Etna, handed down from Father to Son for five generations, Nicosia is a historic family-owned winery rooted in the land and dedicated to producing great Sicilian wines for wine lovers across the world.

Nicosia wines are a tribute to the heart of Sicily, obtained from native vineyards and international varieties that find an ideal terroir on the island, with expressions of rare excellence. They embody the light and warmth of its Mediterranean climate, the strength of its people, and the untamed, exuberant character of the Etna volcano that has both powerful nature and regenerative strength. 

Mt. Etna, one of the tallest and most active volcanos in the world, creates an incredible and unique environment for viticulture. In the last 20 years Etna DOC (est. 1968) has become one of the most exciting appellations in Italy. Cantine Nicosia is one of the original Wineries to settle on Etna, and one of the few still shepherding their own grapes from vine to bottle.  

In respecting a land that has been in their family for over 120 years, Cantine Nicosia has obtained several organic certifications and are also part of VIVA for sustainability. In total Nicosia has achieved 10 different certifications, including but not limited to: organic, carbon neutral, vegan and energy efficient.

Location of Vineyard

The Nicosia winery is the place where tradition meets ultramodern technology. Covering a nearly 40,000 square meters space, among the spacious winemaking area, the testing laboratory, the large stainless steel tanks, the ultramodern bottling line, the bottle ageing area and the suggestive underground barrel cellar, the winery is where the heart of the company beats. Near to the wine cellar, at the foot of one of the extinguished craters on Etna volcano, there are the ancient vineyards of Monte Gorna. On their distinctive lava terraces are cultivated the native grape varieties of Etna DOC wines. The company owns other vineyards on the slopes of Etna, reaching a total area of 85 hectares, and in the southeastern Sicily, where it produces the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG wine.

Winemaking Philosophy

Nicosia promotes the best wine growing areas in Sicily, focusing on the finest native grape varieties, and develops the best raw material through the careful selection of the grapes and the constant care on work in the cellar. The company has joined the principles of organic farming and sustainability to combine environmental protection and food safety. Using the most advanced techniques of precision viticulture, the company has been able to eliminate the use of agrochemicals and fertilizers. The winery has long taken up the challenge of high quality with the aim of satisfying the demands of consumers, who are increasingly attentive to healthy drinking and the traceability of every step of the production process. Therefore, Nicosia has earned official and internationally acknowledged certifications requiring the observance of a series of parameters and guidelines in company activities, work organization, production processes, relations with customers, suppliers and consumers, and environmental and food safety. The company has also chosen to make its eco-friendly commitment transparent and measurable thanks to the VIVA Certification, the most advanced sustainability project in viticulture in Italy with the aim of improving the performance of environmental protection and energy saving through the analysis of four fundamental indicators: Air, Water, Territory, Vineyard.

The Nicosia “Cru” wines of Etna come from the Monte Gorna estate, located in the Trecastagni area, very close to the wine cellar. A red and a white wine, made with organic grapes, that authentically represent the great expression that this terroir and its native vines can offer. These DOC wines are the demonstration that on the volcano each slope, each area, each vineyard can produce wines with different characteristics, giving unique and unrepeatable sensations. The composition of the eruptive materials gave life to composite soils, often made up small sized pumice stones, known as "ripiddu", found mostly on extinguished volcanic cones such as Monte Gorna; thier elevated drainage capacity and their wealth of potassium paly an important role in balancing the grape's maturation process. Even the climate distinguishes the Etna area respect to the rest of Sicily. The average temperatures on the mountains are lower and the climate also changes depending on the slope and the alyitude. From a winemaking standpoint, the wine diurnal temperature range is fundamental, as it gives the wines their goog freshness and elegant aromas. Carricante is an indigenous white grape cultivated exclusively on Etna and its name refers to the plant considerable productivity. In fact, the name Carricante refres to a "plant full of fruits".

Wine Production

Widely grown on the Eastern side of the volcano, this grape variety provides the base for Etna Bianco DOC, which gives freshness and elegant aromas. Catarratto is Sicily's most widely grown white grape. It has various clones that differ in the color and shape of the clusters, and it is often blended whit other varieties, as in the case of Etna Bianco DOC, which gives good structure and balance.

Tasting Notes

Straw-yellow color with brilliant golden highlights. Complex and elegant on the nose with notes of apple, grapefruit, hawthorn and honey. Iincredibly fresh taste with mineral notes, along with a particular anise finish.

Food Pairing

Perfect pairing with shellfish risotto, seafood dishes, fried fish and vegetable tempura.