Alberelli di Giodo

Italy, Sicily

Megastar winemaker Carlo Ferrini fell in love with the wines of Etna and the island of Sicilly over the course of numerous visits to this beautiful, sun-kissed island. He is a good friend and collaborator of the charming Gianfranco at the Le Casematte winery - this relationship led to his hunt for his own vineyard in the area. Finally the dream is realised - and 2016 marks the first vintage release of the new Alberelli di Giodo wine.

Carlo started this project in 2012, hoovering up some small plots of old (70-90 years old) bush-vine Nerello Mascalese, as and when they have been available, after 5 years Carlo has secured a total of just 1 Hectare of vines. They are all really high up the Etna slopes at nearly 3000m altitude. In fact so high they are out of the DOC Etna - which runs up to about 1100m! The wine is therefore officially a DOC Sicilia - but could not be more Etna in shape, feel and essence. This small-production beauty is only available in tiny quantities and is sure to be an instant classic. New listings don't come much more exciting than this.

Carlo Ferrini, with his light eyes and dirty blonde hair, is a familiar face on Etna. The Tuscan winemaker has worked as a consultant on the volcano for years, and he was well-rooted in the territory as its popularity started to grow. Like many (and I include myself here), Carlo became deeply enamored of Sicily and Etna. When he was back in Tuscany, he started to suffer from a form of nostalgic homesickness for Sicily that could only be appeased by some sort of permanent residency on the island. His Alberelli di Giodo was born of this spirt. He farms a small parcel in Contrada Rampante (at 700 to 950 meters above sea level). He also has a small plot in the Contrada Pietrarizzo with pre-phylloxera alberello vines that are 80 to 100 years old. The organic vines have northern exposures, ideal for Nerello Mascalese, and are planted in characteristic volcanic pumice sand Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (www.robertparker.com)  (Dec 2022)


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