Nerello Mascalese

On the barren, ash-grey slopes of Mount Etna, Nerello Mascalese has found its home. At these extreme altitudes in Sicily, this late-ripening grape variety produces wines of fascinating transparency and delicate structure. In the glass, it presents a pale ruby red, carried by vibrant acidity and a tight-knit, almost chalky tannic structure. Its bouquet ranges from wild raspberries and sour cherries to tobacco and cool, volcanic stone. These wines combine power and weightlessness in a taut, savoury way that pairs outstandingly with earthy mushroom dishes.

Just how multifaceted this tastes is demonstrated by the work of I Vigneri di Salvo Foti, who blends the variety with Nerello Cappuccio and Grenache in the Vinupetra Rosso to create a profound monument. Meanwhile, the Consentino by Massimo Lentsch captures the pure, red-fruited spice of the volcano in a single-varietal masterpiece.