I Vigneri di Salvo Foti

The fascinating landscape of Mount Etna, Sicily's famous volcano, reveals one of the most exciting wine regions in Europe - and right in the centre of it all is the I Vigneri di Salvo Foti winery. Few places have such a direct connection between landscape, people and wine as this winery, which has become the epitome of natural, authentic and at the same time highly sophisticated wine culture thanks to its founder, the charismatic Salvo Foti. Foti, one of Sicily's most influential and uncompromising winegrowers, founded "I Vigneri" as a tribute to the centuries-old wine tradition of Mount Etna, which he not only wanted to preserve but also revitalise at the highest level of quality.

Unique volcanic landscape - the soul of Etna in every bottle

Mount Etna is Europe's highest active volcano and is considered one of the most fascinating terroirs in the world. The vineyards of I Vigneri are located at an altitude of up to 1,200 metres on black, mineral-rich soils consisting of cooled lava, volcanic ash and sand. These unique soils, characterised by a high mineral content, give the wines an incomparable, almost salty freshness and extraordinary complexity.
The extreme altitude also brings with it high temperature differences between day and night, which give the grapes an intense flavour and acidity structure. The vineyards are often confronted with climatic challenges - from frosty nights to scorching heat during the day - which makes the winegrowers true masters in dealing with extreme conditions. It is precisely these contrasts that ultimately shape the unique wines, whose characteristics impressively reflect the wild beauty and untamed power of Mount Etna.

Traditional Alberello education - a return to old craftsmanship

A speciality of I Vigneri di Salvo Foti is the preservation of the traditional Alberello cultivation, a historical bush vine cultivation method that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This method, in which each vine is cultivated individually as a bush and worked by hand, is extremely labour-intensive, but results in incomparable quality. Alberello training allows the vines to adapt optimally to the harsh climate and mineral soils, as they are better protected from the wind, have deeper roots and receive ideal sun exposure thanks to the low training.
Vineyards planted with Alberello produce lower yields, which significantly increases the concentration of flavours in the grapes. Salvo Foti deliberately uses old, often ungrafted vines, whose grapes are only harvested in small quantities, but are characterised by depth, complexity and great expressiveness.

Ancient grape varieties - Nerello Mascalese and Carricante as identity carriers

The autochthonous grape varieties Nerello Mascalese and Carricante are central to the style of I Vigneri. Nerello Mascalese is considered the centrepiece of Etna's red wines and is often reminiscent of great Burgundy or Baroli in its elegance and complexity. This grape variety produces delicate, light-coloured red wines, characterised by fine acidity, supple tannins and elegant aromas of red fruit, Mediterranean herbs and a distinctive mineral note.
Carricante, on the other hand, is the basis for the winery's impressive white wines. The variety feels particularly at home at higher altitudes, where it produces wines of exceptional freshness, clarity and salty minerality. The white wines from I Vigneri are undoubtedly among the most exciting and long-lived growths in Italy today. As they mature in the bottle, they develop fascinating nuances of citrus fruit, almonds, Mediterranean herbs and a subtle smoky note that is an unmistakable reference to the volcanic terroir.

Purist cellar work - minimalism and authenticity as guiding principles

Salvo Foti's philosophy is based on naturalness and restraint in vinification. He strictly rejects chemical interventions or technical interventions in the cellar. Instead, the winery favours spontaneous fermentation using wild yeasts, moderate maceration times and a cautious, minimalist approach that clearly expresses the terroir.
The wines are also deliberately matured in neutral containers such as used wooden barrels or cement tanks, which preserve the unique character of the grapes and show the wines in their pure, unadulterated form. The result is wines that convey an almost transparent clarity of their origin, endowed with great vibrancy, precision and depth. This is precisely where I Vigneri's aspiration to create wines that don't just taste good, but tell stories and make a clear statement in favour of sustainable, terroir-driven viticulture comes to the fore.

I Vigneri di Salvo Foti - Sicily's beacon for sustainable viticulture

The importance of I Vigneri di Salvo Foti extends far beyond the borders of Sicily. Through his radical commitment to tradition, sustainability and authenticity, Salvo Foti has established Etna as one of the most exciting wine regions in the world. He is not concerned with commercial trends, but with long-term visions and the protection of a cultural identity that appears increasingly endangered in times of globalised wine worlds.
The wines of I Vigneri are not fashionable experiments, but an expression of sustainable, ethical viticulture and genuine dedication to craftsmanship. Every bottle contains the soul of Sicily and the personal signature of a winemaker whose work has not only inspired an entire generation, but has also played a key role in making Mount Etna one of the most fascinating terroirs in Europe today. Anyone who experiences I Vigneri di Salvo Foti will not only discover exceptional wines, but also a profound story about passion, terroir and the essential beauty of authenticity.