| Producer | Masseria Del Pino |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Varietal | Nerello Mascalese |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Sku | 1125587 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Tasting Notes: Produced from 120-year-old vines, stomped by foot, fermented in vats made of lava stone, the Masseria del Pino has captured Mt. Etna in a bottle. Smoke, wild-berry brambles, spice box and savory minerals with tannins and acidity reminiscent of a young Barolo. Pair with braised meats, grilled game, or roasted eggplant.
Estate History: In 2005 the now owners of Masseria del Pino, Federica and Cesare, both originally from Catania, decided to leave city life behind them and move to the northern slopes of the Etna volcano. They remodeled the palmento - the old stone wine cellar - that belonged to his grandfather and 8 brothers. They started reviving the one-hectare of alberello, bush vines. The initial goal was to be as self-sufficient as possible. Growing their own vegetables, making olive oil, raising farm animals and producing enough wine for their own, admittedly ample, consumption. After their vineyard was brought back to full swing, the 3000 bottles they produce became too much to drink at home and they decided to start bottling it and selling it to friends and local shops. The farm lies at 800 meters above sea level (2400 feet) in the township of Randazzo. The bush vines vines are more than 100 years old, the majority being Nerello Mascalese, the remainder Nerello Cappuccio. The vinification process takes place in their open volcanic stone vat called palmento, where the fermentation starts spontaneously, and the maceration lasts about 2 weeks. The wine is then placed in used tonneaux, where it matures for one year before being bottled unfiltered.
