MOFETE ETNA BIANCO

Nestled high on the slopes of Mount Etna, Palmento Costanzo has quickly established itself as one of Sicily’s leading estates since the Costanzo family first arrived here in 2009. Originally from Catania, Mimmo and Valeria Costanzo, together with their daughter Serena, purchased and painstakingly restored an historic palmento dating back to 1850 in Contrada Santo Spirito, above Passopisciaro. The estate released its first wines in 2011 and has since become one of Etna’s benchmark producers, combining serious investment with meticulous attention to both vineyard and cellar.
Today, the estate works across 22 hectares of organically farmed vineyards spread over eight different contrade on the volcano, ranging from 650 to 1,000 metres in altitude. The vineyards are planted in the traditional alberello (gobelet) style, with massale selection used extensively to preserve the genetic diversity of Etna’s old vines. Farming here is demanding and yields are kept naturally low, particularly in Santo Spirito, where free-draining sandy volcanic soils rich in lapilli produce wines of remarkable finesse and aromatic precision. The estate’s unique position on Etna’s northern slopes is strongly influenced by the surrounding landscape. The Nebrodi Mountains shelter the vineyards from cooling northern winds, while nearby volcanic craters help moderate temperatures, creating a slightly warmer mesoclimate despite the high elevations. This combination allows for long, even ripening periods, with white varieties typically harvested in mid-September and reds often not until late October.
Winemaking is thoughtful and restrained under the guidance of consultant oenologist Nicola Centonze. Fermentations take place using indigenous yeasts, with gentle extraction and extended macerations for the reds. Ageing is primarily in large oak botti, preserving purity and site expression. The range is impressive throughout, from the elegant cru bottlings of Santo Spirito to the tiny production Prefillossera Rosso, produced from ungrafted vines over 130 years old.
Palmento Costanzo captures the modern spirit of Etna: deeply respectful of tradition, yet ambitious, precise and uncompromising in its pursuit of quality.