Monte Gorna Riserva
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from the vintage release, when its structured tannins soften and reveal intricate tertiary notes of leather, spice, and dried herbs.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted rack of lamb, slow-cooked wild boar ragù, aged pecorino cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the steep, terraced slopes of Monte Gorna, an ancient extinct crater on the eastern flank of Mount Etna, this Riserva embodies the dramatic, fiery spirit of Sicilian viticulture. The vines thrive in fertile, mineral-rich volcanic sands at altitudes of around 700 meters, where intense sunlight and cool mountain nights foster slow, balanced ripening. According to local lore, these volcanic slopes have been blessed by the gods since antiquity, with the fertile black ash of the volcano providing a unique life force to the indigenous vines. Crafted from a meticulous selection of hand-harvested grapes, the wine undergoes extended aging in French oak casks followed by further refinement in the bottle. This patient process yields a deeply complex red characterized by elegant wild berry aromas, flinty minerality, and a subtle, smoky undertone reminiscent of its volcanic origin.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1898 by Francesco Nicosia on the eastern slopes of Mount Etna, Cantine Nicosia has evolved across five generations into an ambassador of Sicilian viticulture. Today steered by Carmelo Nicosia alongside his sons Francesco and Graziano, the estate combines modern winemaking precision with deep regional tradition under the guidance of head enologist Maria Carella. Vineyards span key microclimates across the island, notably the terraced volcanic sands and decomposed lava fields of Monte Gorna near Trecastagni at roughly 700 meters elevation, as well as limestone-rich calcareous soils in Vittoria. Working through certified organic farming and vegan-certified protocols, Nicosia focuses heavily on indigenous Sicilian varieties. Their benchmark white expressions—spanning Generazione Mille898 mono-varietals like Grillo, Insolia, and Catarratto, through to volcanic Etna Bianco and aromatic Balanubi bottlings—are distinguished by mineral tension, saline clarity, and authentic varietal character.
🍇 Grapes
Nerello Mascalese 90%, Nerello Cappuccio 10%
🍷 ABV
13.5%