Girolamo Russo 2021 Etna Rosso ‘A Rina’ Sicilia

Russo’s ‘A Rina’ is a beautiful glass of Etna Rosso, showing how young(ish) vines can be tamed by a traditionalist approach and deliveries immediately. The fruit is bright and complex, yet its sits on a strong frame supported by supple tannins and a generous dose of savory herbs and minerals. This is pretty classic volcanic wine, an ever-evolving soil which produces expressive aroma and mouthfeel.  

Giuseppe Russo had been studying to be a pianist when his father Girolamo died unexpectedly in 2005. He then came back home to Mount Etna to take over the family vineyards. Since that time he has been organically farming these old vines, some of them more than 100 years old, and he has restored the old cellar under his house. He has 15 hectares of vines on the North side of Etna, around the town of Passopisciaro, including pieces of some famous ‘contrade’, as the historic localities are known here. Giuseppe’s vineyards are planted on ancient lava flows called ‘sciare,’ which vary in age, mineral content and topsoil composition, with underground pockets that allow water retention to keep the vines hydrated during the heat of the summer. A’Rina is his estate wine, made mostly from fruit from his younger vines.

WINEMAKER: Giuseppe Russo

VARIETAL: 90% Nerello Mascalese 10% Nerello Cappuccio

APPELLATION: Passopisciaro, Mount Etna

REGION: Sicilia

IN THE VINEYARD: 100% Organically farmed

IN THE WINERY: Native yeast, 10-day maceration, cask and concrete aged

ABV%: 14

SERVE: Open, let stand for 30min, serve in a wide-bulbed glass