The Wine
Moganazzi and Guardiola, with Santo Spirito closely following, have always been considered the best terroirs of the Municipality of Castiglione, the largest of the northern slopes of Etna. Consequently, in 2007, when I discovered a very small plot of Moganazzi for sale, I grabbed it without hesitation. But it was so tiny that I decided to dedicate its splendid wine – three barriques! – to a charity project linked to the Meyer pediatric hospital in Florence.
The labels, I decided, would be designed by my daughter, (which she made since the first two years of age!)
Three years ago we managed to buy an adjacent parcel and rent another piece immediately next to it. So, with the 2017 harvest I began to bottle the Moganazzi cru also for Terre Nere”. Marco de Grazia
Aesthetically splendid, the vineyard stands at 700 meters on steep terraces covered with sapling vines of about eighty years. The entire production is around 3,000 bottles. The wine is “sparkling”: of dense texture and luminous character, with a captivating attack and the discreet beauty of a Greek sculpture. Over time, his refined drive makes room for a soft resilience, combined with a nervous and intimate richness sustained by a twilight.
Vineyard & Winemaking
First released vintage: 2017
Production area: contrada Moganazzi, township of Castiglione di Sicilia (Catania) Varietals of grapes: 100% Nerello mascalese
Extension of the vineyard: 2 ha
Yield per hectare: 5 tons/ha
Characteristics of the soil: deep, soft and dark volcanic soil, black pumice, rich in volcanic ash
Exposure: northern slope of Mount Etna, 700-750 meters a.s.l.
Average age of the vines: between 70 and 80 years old
Type of cultivation: en goblet and modified en goblet
Harvest: second decade of October
Vinification: alcoholic fermentation under controlled temperature (28-30° C).
Bottling after 14 months of wood aging and 1 month in steel.
Aging: spontaneous malolactic fermentation and aging in French oak barriques, tonneaux.
Tasting notes
Color: intense ruby
Nose: intense, complex, full bodied, black fruits, richly floral
Flavor: ample, velvety and of creamy persistence, spicy
The Estate
The estate is located on the northern slopes of Etna, within the hilly belt that extends between Solicchiata and Randazzo, historically the area historically recognized as the finest in the appellation for fine red wines. The estate consists of approximately 45 hectares divided into 29 plots and in nine Contradas (crus).