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IT I Vigneri di Salvo Foti – a winery that, like few others, embodies the very essence of Etna. Salvo Foti, visionary and guardian of Sicilian wine tradition, uniquely combines centuries-old viticultural methods with an uncompromising philosophy of sustainability. The high-altitude volcanic vineyards, shaped by ancient vines and the traditional alberello training system, yield extraordinarily mineral, elegant and authentic wines. Every drop speaks of the rugged charm and complex personality of Etna. The wines of I Vigneri reflect not only a unique terroir, but also the character of a winemaker whose passion has brought Etna back to the attention of the international wine world.
More about I Vigneri di Salvo Foti
The soul of the volcano in every bottle
The fascinating landscape of Etna, Europe's highest active volcano, is home to one of the most exciting wine regions, and right in the middle of it lies I Vigneri di Salvo Foti. Few places have such a direct connection between landscape, people and wine as this estate, which its founder has made the epitome of authentic, close-to-nature wine culture. The vineyards lie at up to 1,200 metres on black, mineral-rich soils of cooled lava, volcanic ash and sand. These singular soils give an incomparable, almost saline freshness and exceptional complexity, experienced most vividly in the Vinupetra Rosso, whose name, "wine of stone", captures the essence of this terroir perfectly.
Alberello Etneo: UNESCO World Heritage as vineyard practice
One of the hallmarks of I Vigneri is the preservation of traditional alberello training, a historic bush-vine system declared World Heritage by UNESCO. This method, in which each vine is tended individually as a bush and worked by hand, is extremely labour-intensive, but it leads to incomparable quality. In their vineyards there are no iron posts or concrete pillars and no wires, only chestnut stakes from Etna. Salvo Foti deliberately relies on old, often ungrafted vines whose grapes are harvested only in small quantities but impress with depth and great expressiveness. He has also carried this philosophy to the Aeolian Islands: as a consultant he helped Tenuta di Castellaro on Lipari revive the alberello tradition there.
Nerello Mascalese and Carricante: the identity of Etna
Central to the style of I Vigneri are the indigenous varieties Nerello Mascalese and Carricante. Nerello Mascalese is considered the heart of Etna's red wines and its elegance often recalls great Burgundy. The variety produces delicate, pale reds marked by fine acidity, supple tannins and elegant red-fruit aromas, exemplified by the I Vigneri Rosso. Carricante, by contrast, is the basis of the impressive whites. The variety thrives at higher altitudes, where it yields wines of exceptional freshness and saline minerality. Whites such as the Aurora Bianco are today among the most exciting wines in Italy.
Palmento and purist cellar work
Salvo Foti's philosophy rests on naturalness and restraint. In the historic palmento, the traditional wine press that stands like a witness to past centuries, the grapes are processed gently. He strictly rejects chemical intervention. Instead the estate relies on spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts and a careful approach that expresses the terroir clearly. The wines are aged in neutral vessels such as used wooden casks or cement tanks, which preserve the unique character of the grapes. The result is wines of great vitality, precision and depth, a clear statement for sustainable, terroir-driven viticulture that draws attention far beyond the borders of Sicily.