Etna, a force of nature.
"The mountain, or rather a Muntagna in Sicilian, has seduced us".
The story of Tasca d’Almerita and that of “Muntagna” began in 2007, when the Tascante project (a wordplay on Tasca and Etna together) was born. The creation of our idea of the ideal vineyard on Europe’s highest volcano, Mount Etna.
BEAUTY IS AWE,
THRILL, WONDER.
JUST WHAT YOU FEEL
WHEN YOU MEET ETNA
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
IT IS A FIRE THAT RUNS INSIDE YOU,
ENERGY THAT SPREADS THROUGH THE VINEYARDS.
BEAUTY IS THE ROUGH TERRACES,
THE SICILIAN CONTRADE,
NERELLO MASCALESE.
BEAUTY IS TASCANTE
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO CULTIVATE IT.
Volcano Etna
Knowing a land’s personality, understanding its nuances, and identifying its strengths and potential weaknesses, are not easily or immediately done. You may get have a quick first impression, but understanding the details takes time. And the details make all the difference.
Nerello Mascalese and Etna’s volcanic soils interact in an almost magical way, expressing the strength of the terroir distinctively and unmistakably. On Etna, the vines mature without major health problems even in the wettest and rainiest years. But do not assume the results come easily: this is far from simple agriculture. Strong inclines, terraces that climb the slopes of the volcano, and slow and late ripening, all make work in Etna’s vineyards very challenging.
In the Tenuta Tascante Contrade, the vines are tended to daily with care, expertise, and passion. The grapes are harvested with almost obsessive attention: the same vineyard may have three distinct harvests.
After more than 15 years since the start of the project, the constant care of the vines has finally brought results.
Chardonnay
Carricante
Nerello Mascalese
To visit Etna is to discover a unique territory.
Discovering the Tasca d’Almerita vineyards on Etna means experiencing part of a territory that is unique in the world. The first thing one notices is the terracing, a series of dry stone walls and rows of vines. And then the woods stand out, trees that have been here for decades, grown between earth and lava, embracing the four Contrade.
Tascante Tasting
A cellar of nearly 1,000 square meters with an old palmento in which wines are aged. Guests are welcomed in Contrada Rampante and Pianodario in an area called Passopisciaro between Castiglione di Sicilia and Randazzo. An area rich in vines but also chestnuts, herbs, and famous for excellent bread baked in wood-burning ovens of once-upon-a-time.