COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2016
GRAPE
Nerello Mascalese
PRODUCER
Vini Franchetti (Passopisciaro)
REGION
Sicilia
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
High
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
Tannins
Medium - High
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Contrada C (Chiappemacine) is produced by Vini Franchetti from the estate of Passopisciaro, located on the northern slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. Founded by the late Andrea Franchetti in 2000, the estate was a pioneer in reclaiming ancient, high-altitude volcanic terraces. By 2008, Franchetti began bottling his single-vineyard contrade separately to showcase the distinct terroirs of the volcano. Chiappemacine is the lowest-elevation site in the portfolio, situated at 550 meters above sea level. Here, a thin layer of volcanic soil sits directly on top of limestone bedrock, a geological rarity on Etna that imparts a unique roundness and fleshiness to the wine compared to its higher-altitude counterparts.
ALCOHOL
14.5%
AVG. PRICE
€65
STYLE
Classic
VEGAN
YES
SULPHITES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
16-18°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
The 'C' stands for Chiappemacine, named after the large stone wheels historically used to crush olives on Mount Etna.
Fact 02
It is the lowest-elevation single-vineyard Cru in the Passopisciaro portfolio, sitting at 550 meters above sea level.
Fact 03
The vineyard features centenarian vines ranging from 70 to 100 years old, producing extremely low yields.
FOOD PAIRING
Read more
WINE MAKING PROCESS
The winemaking process for Contrada C focuses on minimal intervention to preserve the unique volcanic and limestone terroir. Grapes are harvested entirely by hand from centenarian vines in late October. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats for 10 to 15 days using spontaneous, indigenous yeasts. Malolactic fermentation is fully completed in large neutral oak barrels. The wine is then aged for 18 months in large neutral oak casks (botte grande ranging from 15 to 20 Hl) to prevent the introduction of sweet oak flavors, allowing the pure expression of the Nerello Mascalese grape and its site-specific characteristics to shine through.
