MONTELEONE WINE DINNER

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 5th @ 6:30PM

Giulia Monteleone, along with her father Enrico, and boyfriend Benedetto Alessandro; a winemaker by trade, take care of this micro-estate on the Northern slope of Mt. Etna.  They currently farm old-vine Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio in Contrada Cuba on the Northern slope and Contrada Rumex on the Eastern slope of the volcano as well as Carricante in Sant’Alfio. Although the project’s first release was just recently in 2017, many of the Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappucio plants in their care are ancient pre-phylloxera vines averaging 100+ years of age. This allows a unique opportunity for fresh winemaking philosophies and young minds to work with venerable and important grape material. 

Upper Contrada Cuba is the parcel holding the oldest vines and was planted to Albarello (bush vine) style Nerello Mascalese in 1935.  The lower section was planted in 1970 using the espalier trellis training method.  This vineyard totals 2ha and account for the current Etna Rosso production on the estate which remains around 5,600 bottles.  Contrada Rumex is currently in production, but remains unreleased as of this date.   The Contrada Cuba bottling is produced from the oldest portions of the vineyard, where production totals 1,250 bottles annually.  The classic Etna Rosso also comes from this vineyard, but from the plots planted in 1970. The plot accounts for the remaining 4, 350 bottles of Etna Rosso DOC currently made at Monteleone.  The Etna Bianco Anthemis is created from a .6ha plot of young Carricante vines planted in 2008.  The Anthemis is a true micro-lot at just under 750 bottles produced a year.