COLOUR
White
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2025
GRAPE
Carricante, Catarratto
PRODUCER
Controcorrente
REGION
Sicilia
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Light
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Medium - Long
Intensity
Mid - Pronounced
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Controcorrente was founded in 2020 by Antonino (Nino) Calì, an architect who returned to his grandfather's land on the northeastern slopes of Mount Etna, Sicily. Operating under the name Controcorrente (meaning 'Against the Current'), Calì aims to protect the local terroir from corporate wine speculation. Located in Contrada Lavina, Linguaglossa, at 550 meters elevation, the estate works with young vines planted in 2015 on sandy volcanic soils. The name 'Carico' is a playful nod to the high-yielding reputation of the Carricante grape, contrasted by Calì's low-yield, high-tension approach.
ALCOHOL
12.0%
AVG. PRICE
€25
STYLE
Natural
VEGAN
YES
SULPHITES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
10-12°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
Winemaker Nino Calì is an architect by training who abandoned his design board to express his emotions through Etna's volcanic soils.
Fact 02
The name 'Carico' (Loaded) humorously plays on Carricante's historical reputation for high yields, despite this wine being light and low-yield.
Fact 03
The estate produces only about 8,000 bottles annually across its entire portfolio, making this a highly limited micro-batch bottling.
FOOD PAIRING
Read more
WINE MAKING PROCESS
The winemaking follows a low-intervention, natural philosophy. Grapes are hand-harvested and meticulously sorted before undergoing direct pressing using a traditional vertical wooden press. Spontaneous fermentation occurs in stainless steel vats using only indigenous yeasts, without temperature control. The wine is aged in stainless steel for six months to preserve its pure volcanic character. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur added only at bottling.
