The history of Santa Maria La Nave and the family's love for the Etnean vines and nature go back to 1954, when their grandfather, Giuseppe Mulone (called Peppino), a gentleman farmer from Regalbuto, in the province of Enna, moved to Catania with his family, looking for better and steadier living conditions. He found his first work on Mount Etna at Zafferana, where Nonno Peppino took part in the harvests. He was fascinated by the fertility of the volcanic soil, the lushness of the vine varieties, and the magnificence of the grapes. His deep relationship with vines and Mount Etna lasted several years – until 1980, when his only son left in Sicily, “spared” from the migratory flows that emptied the island of many tireless workers, bought property on Mount Etna, in the municipality of Viagrande. In that property, there was a small and ancient vineyard of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio that Nonno Peppino cultivated with love and passion, taking part in the first harvests and in the vinification, strictly performed using the natural and artisan methods that are typical of the local traditions on Mount Etna.He passed on that same passion, respect, and love to the family, proud heirs of Peppino Mulone, who strive to share it with future generations with passion and dedication. That’s the soul of, Santa Maria La Nave-- to pass on this vision from the old to the new generations, safeguarding the precious viticultural heritage of their beloved Mount Etna during the centuries. And even if nowadays the vinification process is more modern and efficient, the care they have towards and the techniques with which they tend to their wines are the same as they were centuries ago. The harvest is handmade, as it was in the past, and they carry it out with the utmost gentleness, preserving every bunch with the same humility and passion that their ancestors had. Today, the family is the keeper and the warrantor of the fundamental principles that gave birth to Santa Maria La Nave – the same principles they learned from a good example of Nonno Peppino.