IDDA Etna Bianco is made from the Carricante grape variety near Biancavilla, on the southwest slopes of the volcano, at an altitude of 700-800 m.a.s.l. The winter of 2018/2019 was quite classic for the area, with some snowfall in November and in January, as well as some rain showers at the end of the winter, which ensured good water reserves. A period of cool temperatures in March and April, as well as rain in May, delayed budding and flowering. After that, the summer was extremely hot and dry (up to 35-40°C) and due to the late flowering, the harvest was quite late. The yield was less than in 2018, but the 2019 wines show good complexity and harmony. The pressing took place with whole bunches. After a natural settling, the must was fermented in a combination of wooden barrels (10 hl.) and steel tanks, followed by a maturation for 12 months in the same type of containers.
IDDA Bianco 2019 offers delicious, crisp aromas of citrus fruit (lime, grape), kiwi and passion fruit as well as light, exotic nuances of acacia flower, jasmine and herbs in both scent and taste. The taste has a good dryness and velour, with character of marzipan, peach and a very delicious, crisp and mineral finish, with salty tones. Perfect for shellfish and fish, for white meat in light sauces and for cheeses such as Pecorino.
Gaja Sicily
No other winemaker can probably match the reputation and influence that Angelo Gaja (born 1940) has achieved on the international wine scene since he joined the family business in Barbaresco in 1961 and took over its management in 1969. In recent years, the 5th generation, consisting of the daughters Gaia and Rossana and the son Giovanni, have been continuously promoted, but they still have their father and teacher by their side.
During a trip to the Etna area of Sicily in 2016, Angelo Gaja met one of the most renowned winemakers in the area, Alberto Graci. The Graci family (Alberto and sister Elena) have been growing wine on Etna since 2005 and Angelo Gaja was immediately captivated and impressed by both the vineyards and the class and elegance he found in the Etna wines from Graci.
It was thus an enthusiastic man who returned home to Piedmont, and this resulted immediately afterwards in the establishment of a “joint venture” (50-50) between the Gaja and Graci wineries. The families subsequently bought 21 ha together. land on the southwestern slopes of Mount Etna. 11 ha. of these fields, located near Biancavilla, were already planted (1975 and 2006) with Nerello Mascalese (red) and a small portion (1 ha.) of Carricante (white), which had been grown organically by the previous owner. The first harvest under the new ownership was made in 2017. Another 4 ha. was planted with Carricante in the spring of 2018. They have since also bought 22 ha. land near Belpasso, where the first 4 ha. has been planted with the grape variety Cataratto (white) in spring 2019.
The new winery has been named IDDA – a name that is directly linked to the still active and capricious volcano, Etna. Among the locals, the volcano is attributed to a female nature – a mother nature that can be harsh but also generous, and it is therefore called “IDDA” – a word that in the local Sicilian dialect means “she”.
Etna
In the same way that in the 1990s in Tuscany a new area on the west coast – Maremma – was almost “discovered”, in Sicily it has become clear what potential the Etna area, in the north-eastern part of the island, can offer. Both local Sicilian wine producers and well-known producers in other districts of Italy have embarked on a new adventure over the past 20 years. While most of the original vineyards in the area were on the northern and eastern slopes of the still active volcano Etna, many of the new vineyards have been planted on the southern slopes – and often quite far up the volcano (to about 1,200 m.a.s.l.).
Viticulture at Etna can be traced far back in history and is primarily due to perfect dark, volcanic soil types, good exposure to the sun and the high-altitude vineyards, which mean large temperature differences, longer maturation and thus more delicate and aromatic white and red wines. Etna got its DOC status in 1968 (approx. 950 ha, in 2018) and the legislation requires min. 60% of the Carricante grape for the whites, supplemented with e.g. Cataratto. Rosato and Rosso wines must be made at min. 80% Nerello Mascalese, supplemented with i.a. Nerello Cappuccio. DOC Etna also applies to both the white and red Spumante (min. 60% Nerello Mascalese). It is the red Etna wines that dominate with approx. 60% of production. Some of the wines produced outside DOC Etna are sold, among other things. such as DOC Sicilia or IGT Terre Siciliane.
