2018 Ayunta Nerello Mascalese Bianco

Region: Mt. Etna < Sicily                Grapes: Nerello Mascalese Farming Practice: Organic farming; 50-100 year-old vines on Etna’s volcanic soils; grapes are softly pressed in order to not extract too much coloring (no maceration), followed by spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel and aged in cement for 7 months; 500 cases; 12% ABV  Winemaker: Filippo Ayunta FUN FACT: Mt. Etna is the highest volcano in Europe, and one of the world’s most active.  It tops out at nearly 11,000 feet (you can ski Etna - yes, skiing in Sicily!) and vineyards dot the black volcanic landscape as pretty high up the mountain.   We love Etna wines, especially ones that come from small and scrappy one man (or woman) operations, like this project from Filippo Ayunta, who still holds down a day job (as export manager for a big Northern Italian winery). He grew up on the other side of the Sicilian island, where his family grew grapes and made wine until grandpa died and the estate had to be sold off. Yea