Product description

Mount Ilice, a wonderful side crater on the southeastern slope of Mount Etna. It’s here that our Calmarossa comes to life. This beautiful mountain overlooks the Ionian Sea and is characterized by an extreme declivity and fine black sand and volcanic ashes. The soil is rich in minerals that come from our planet's original and primordial depths, making it the perfect place to grow vines and fruit trees. Here, for entire centuries, many generations of winemakers followed one another, tending and managing these extreme vineyards and working and striving with passion. Mother Nature constantly rewarded them with genuine wines, examples of an entirely volcanic terroir. During the last 50 years, this ancient pre-phylloxera vineyard, at the altitude of 800 meters above sea level, has been grown with true love and intimate devotion according to a biodynamic regime by Don Alfio, a passionate and upstanding farmer, a great expert of Mount Etna. We inherited this incredible biodiversity “sanctuary” from him: rare fruit trees and ancient bush-trained local vine varieties that we want to bring back to their original splendor to preserve them and pass them on to future generations. Our Calmarossa has been forged by centuries of ancient Etnean winemaking tradition: a strong and stubborn wine, elegant at the same time, just like the ancient vines from which it comes. A volcanic wine, with a ruby red color, which makes one think about the lava itself, about its intensity and fierceness – but that, thanks to its Etnean aroma, can bring peace and soothe one’s soul at every sip. Just as when you get to see a wonderful sunset from the peak of the volcano, watching the sea where the mountain rises or the pure white snow that covers it during winter. An evocative wine, which narrates our tradition and has the very same scent as Mount Etna.

Blend Details

Color

Brilliant ruby red color, with subtle purple reflections

Nose

The penetrating scent of roses and wild violets blends with fruity, cherry and raspberry notes and then leaves space for some cinnamon and undergrowth nuances, along with a shade of graphite and traces of cocoa and liquorice. Ethereal traces of varnish exalt the complexity of its bouquet. The aroma is rich and refined.

Palate

At start its taste is full and captivating. Dry, warm and soft thanks to its volcanic glycerol. Its vivid freshness softens the strong alcoholic notes, which harmoniously blends with a refined tannin. Persistent, balanced and with a rich and enveloping final note. A glass of true Etnean explosion!

Pairings

Calmarossa is perfect when served with red meat and seasoned cheese. Other interesting pairings, even if more unusual, are oysters, sashimi, fried fish and Catalan style king crab. Great when served with pasta with sardines and tomatoes, or roasted octopus on a bed of pea shoot microgreens. We suggest serving it at a temperature of 61-64 °C. When paired with raw fish, the ideal serving temperature is 12-14 °C.