Frank Cornelissen Susucaru Rosso 2024

Frank Cornelissen Susucaru Rosso 2024 comes from one of the most influential and polarizing producers on Mount Etna. A Belgian by birth, Frank Cornelissen arrived in Sicily in the early 2000s, well before Etna became one of Italy’s most celebrated wine regions. His philosophy has always centered on farming first, minimal intervention, and allowing Etna’s volcanic soils and old vines to speak as directly as possible. While his earliest wines were known for their extreme natural wine approach, recent vintages have combined that original vision with greater precision and consistency.

Susucaru is the estate’s most approachable red and serves as an introduction to Cornelissen’s view of Etna. Rather than a single vineyard wine, it is a traditional field blend sourced from multiple contrade across the northern slopes of the volcano. The 2024 is composed primarily of nerello mascalese, along with smaller amounts of nerello cappuccio, alicante bouschet, minnella, and uva francese from old vineyards rooted in volcanic soils.

The fruit is destemmed and lightly crushed before fermenting with indigenous yeasts and around a month of skin contact. Aging takes place entirely in large neutral fiberglass and epoxy tanks rather than oak, a deliberate choice that preserves freshness and highlights the volcanic character of the vineyards without introducing wood influence. Fining is avoided and sulfur use is minimal.

The 2024 reflects the wine’s intended role as a vibrant, communal expression of Etna rather than a structured cellar wine. Bright red fruit, herbs, volcanic minerality, and lively acidity are framed by gentle tannins and a distinctly energetic character that has helped make Susucaru a cult favorite among many wine drinkers.

A benchmark Etna field blend from a producer who helped redefine the region, combining old vine fruit, volcanic terroir, and a minimalist approach that remains uniquely Cornelissen.