Etna
Vineyards on a live volcano, making Italy's most talked-about reds.
Etna: the home of Nerello Mascalese
On the slopes of Europe's most active volcano, Sicily's Etna makes reds that wine lovers compare to Burgundy and Barolo: pale, perfumed and mineral, from the local Nerello Mascalese grape grown in black volcanic soil at high altitude. It is one of the most exciting and scenic wine regions in Italy, with the volcano smoking overhead.
The wines
Nerello Mascalese makes elegant, high-acid reds with red fruit, ash and a stony edge, very different from the rich wines people expect of Sicily. The white grape Carricante makes a taut, ageworthy white. Old vines, some ungrafted, are common.
Where to go
The vineyards ring the volcano, with the northern slope around Linguaglossa and Randazzo the most celebrated. Catania, on the coast, is the lively city base, and the climb up Etna itself is a highlight in its own right.
Eat
Sicilian cooking is a world of its own: seafood, pistachios, citrus and bold vegetables. The fresh, savoury Etna reds suit it far better than a heavier wine would.
Getting there
Fly into Catania, then drive about an hour up the slopes. A car is essential for the scattered hillside wineries, and tours combine wine with the volcano.
Know the wine before you go.
The app teaches you Nerello Mascalese in five minutes, then helps you order it with confidence. Learn the grape, then come back and plan the trip.
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Etna, quick answers.
What wine is Etna known for?
Elegant, mineral reds from Nerello Mascalese grown in volcanic soil, plus the crisp white Carricante. The style surprises people expecting heavy Sicilian wine.
Is it safe to grow wine on an active volcano?
Yes. Eruptions are usually slow lava flows on specific flanks, and the volcanic soil is what gives the wines their distinctive character.
When should I visit Etna?
Late spring and autumn are ideal for mild weather and harvest. Combine the wineries with a guided trip up the volcano.
