On the Slopes of Mount Etna

Friday, 13 October 2017 

Having left one volcano we decided to go to another one, a much bigger one. This time there was wine. Yay! The slopes of Mount Etna are really getting a name for making fabulous wines. As is necessary in Italy, we pre-arranged a number of visits to wineries in the region. Our first stop was Tenuta Della Terra Nere. The famous red grape varieties here are Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio while the whites are Carricante, Catarratto, Grecanico, Inzolia and Minnella. We keen to try them all.

Before trying the wines our guide Marco drove us around to the various contrada (this is what they call the individual plots of vineyards) where they identify each cru. The whites had been harvested but the red grapes were still on the vines.

Our guide Marco setting up for a tasting session.

Then onto the next winery, Passopisciaro, which is also the name of the nearby town.

As it started getting later in the day, the colours of the vines, the old stone buildings and the mountains in the background, was really beautiful.  This photo doesn't really do it justice.