Passopisciaro Contrada PC Passochianche Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily, Italy 2021

In 2000 Andrea Franchetti decided to restore an old farm and cellars on the slopes of Mount Etna, an active volcano in northeastern Sicily. The winery sits at about a thousand meters of altitude above the small wine town of Passopisciaro in the district of Castiglione di Sicilia, on the northern slope of the volcano. His first task was to clear and restore long-abandoned terraces of ancient vines on the northern slopes of the mountain, replanting at a density of 12,000 vines per hectare on thin lavic soil. His arrival on Etna helped to initiate the renaissance of viticulture on the mountain and an international discovery of the wines of Etna. At Passopisciaro, he focuses on the native grape Nerello Mascalese and its various expressions of terroir and altitudes through a series of crus, as well as the varieties Chardonnay, Petit Verdot, and Cesanese d’Affile.

This wine is the fruit of the experience we’ve accumulated over the years in understanding our various parcels of chardonnay. Over time, during the harvest and with the advancing age of the vines, many areas have begun to express their own personalities and potential.

James Suckling, 96 points

Vinous, 93 points

Decanter, 93 points