Benanti Nerello Cappuccio 2020
Winemaking in the Benanti family can be traced back to the late 1800s in Viagrande. This deep-rooted passion for wine is what led Giuseppe Benanti to establish the namesake winery in 1988. Located on Mount Etna, “an island within the island” of Sicily, the Benanti family produces wines using 100% native grapes – Carricante, Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. With vineyards positioned on four different slopes of the Etna volcano: North, East, South-East and South-West, the climatic influence and volcanic soils from each slope combine to create territorial wines with a “sense of place.” Benanti is the only winery with vineyards on every slope of the Etna DOC area.
Benanti is the only winery with vineyards on every slope of the Etna DOC area.
After 25 years at the helm of the winery and greatly contributing to the development and growth of the whole region, Giuseppe passed the torch to his sons in 2012. Antonio and Salvino Benanti now lead the winery with the same vision and passion as their father, continuing the reputation as a very traditional producer and the pioneer of fine wine making on Mount Etna.
Benanti farms 24 hectares on four different slopes of the volcano: in the North is Contrada Dafara Galluzzo in Rovitello village (only Nerello Mascalese), in the East is Contrada Rinazzo in Milo village (only Carricante); in the South-East is Contrada Monte Serra in Viagrande village (all varieties); in the South-West is Contrada Cavaliere in Santa Maria di Licodia village (all varieties). All Etna Bianco are made of 100% Carricante, vinified in stainless steel and never aged in oak. Etna Rosso has a restrained influence of neutral oak and Nerello Cappuccio is blended up to 20% with Nerello Mascalese.
Known for respecting the terroir and varietal characteristics, the wines of Benanti are elegant, balanced, refined and can improve with age. Focused on organic farming (not yet certified), the winery uses only selected proprietary indigenous yeasts. As Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate says: “Benanti’s winemaking history is synonymous with Etna winemaking history. In fact, the hard work and excellent wines produced at this historic winery are what catapulted this unknown part of Sicily to the enological forefront, Benanti’s wines are among the best made on the volcano today.”
