Barone di Villagrande is located in Sicily on the slopes
of Mt. Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. The fertile volcanic soils support extensive agriculture, with vineyards
and orchards spread across the lower slopes of the mountain. The Etna DOC for
grape growing was established in 1968, with the help of Carlo Nicolosi Asmundo,
and is situated on the north, east, and south slopes of the Etna volcano.
It was only recently, however, that these mineral influenced wines grown on
these slopes have begun a renaissance and quickly garnering the attention of
critics, sommeliers, and lovers of wine alike.
The history of Villagrande
dates back to 1727 when the Nicolisi family arrived on Mt. Etna's slopes with a
mandate from the church to transform the region from a wildly desolate
landscape to an area with abundant orchards and vineyards. The family has been
tending to these vineyards ever since. Now, in
its 10th generation, the winery is run by Marco Nicolosi Asmundo and
his wife Barbara Liuzzo. Their mission is to create wines that best express the
territory, varietals, and vintages.
The 2018 Etna Bianco
Superiore is composed of 90% Carricante and smaller parts of Catarratto, Minnella and
Visparola. The grapes are sourced from
the Milo district, which is the only district that can boast the specification
of "Superiore" (meaning that it has higher quality requirements). Crisp and
elegant, this wine showcases flavors of lime, white peach, and flint and can be
best enjoyed with shellfish or sushi.
