Terre Nere Montalto Etna Bianco 2024

Terre Nere Montalto Etna Bianco 2024 comes from the Etna project founded by Marco de Grazia, one of the central figures in bringing international attention to the volcanic wines of Sicily. After years working in Piedmont and helping introduce Barolo producers abroad, de Grazia established Tenuta delle Terre Nere in the early 2000s with a strong focus on old vineyards, organic farming, and the distinct identities of Etna’s individual contrade and high elevation sites.

The Montalto bottling is sourced from one of the estate’s highest vineyards on the southern slopes of Etna, planted between roughly 900 and 975 meters above sea level on loose volcanic ash and pumice soils. Many of the vines are between 60 and 90 years old, and the altitude creates large day night temperature swings that help preserve acidity and slow ripening despite Sicily’s warmth.

The wine is built primarily around carricante, with smaller portions of catarratto, grecanico, and inzolia depending on the vintage. Fruit is hand harvested and gently pressed, then fermented in stainless steel and aged on the lees for several months before bottling. The cellar approach is intentionally restrained, avoiding overt oak influence and allowing the volcanic soils and natural structure of carricante to remain central.

The 2024 reflects the style that has made Terre Nere so influential on Etna precise, mineral driven, and structured more around tension than richness. The elevation and volcanic soils give the wine a firm saline edge and steady acidity, while the old vines add texture and depth without heaviness.

A focused, high elevation expression of Etna bianco from one of the producers most responsible for defining the modern identity of the region.