Radica Rosso 2022

For Salvo Foti, Etna wine is a "human wine" due to the small size of the plots and the way they are cultivated. The cultural landscape needs people to reflect its uniqueness. This is why Salvo Foti founded I Vigneri, based on the "Maestranza dei Vigneri" winegrowers' association dating back to 1435. The association of around 35 men is responsible for everything to do with viticulture in the broadest sense - from recultivating old plots and planting new vines to building and maintaining the Muretto Assecco, the typical dry stone walls. I Vigneri prove that craftsmanship and tradition not only have a future, but also represent an intangible and identity-forming value.

The grapes for the Radica come from the Vincenzo Vineyard, which is dedicated to Foti's grandfather of the same name. The old bush vines have an average age of 100 years and grow at 1010 metres above sea level in the Contrada Tartaraci in Bronte with a north-westerly exposure. The Radica is a 100% Grenache. The hand-picked grapes are fermented semi-carbonically in old, open tonneaux for about a week. The grapes are then pressed and blended with the wine. Maturation in steel tanks lasts around 6 months. The wine is coarsely filtered before bottling. Only 2000 bottles were produced in 2022.

Transparent garnet red colour with a dark core.

The 2022 Radica Rosso from I Vigneri di Salvo Foti has a rich black cherry flavour with a subtle raspberry core and light bitter almond notes. Chestnut shells and some walnut outline the dark side of the fruit, while allspice and clove add sweet spice. The transparent, radiant red fruit is the dominant primary characteristic of this Grenache with a more than extraordinary origin and history. 

Silky on the palate, it is mouth-filling with almost fluffy tannins, highly flavoured and velvety, it caresses the palate of the inclined Grenache connoisseur. The obligatory cherry radiates in a semi-carbonic calibrated rich ruby colour across the entire palate, flanked by fine wood spice and clear contours. A tiny bit of volatility acts like a spice here, making everything seem just that little bit more interesting.