Mount Etna - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the highest active volcano in Europe, let alone one of the most active in the world - is located on the east coast of Sicily, north of Catania. An area once completely ignored due to its extremities, tradition of viticulture and farming here are actually deeply steeped in time, dating back to 720 BC when the entire island was colonized by the Greeks. In the early part of the 21st century, a few brave, entrepreneurial winemakers rediscovered the rich, volcanic soils and lava deposits, the result of eruptions over centuries. Their work effectively established the Etna Renaissance, putting Sicily on the international map for the production of high quality wine. The volcanic soils - ranging from pebbly and gravelly to sandy or rather, ashy - are extraordinarily immune to phylloxera and thus several vineyards remain un often ungifted. or bush-trained system, “heroic viticulture” finds one of its most iconic expressions here. Temperature variations can be dramatic between day and night. Despite the very warm - sometimes hot - climate each year, Etna reds and whites offer very good acidity and generally have mellow tannins. The principal varieties cultivated are Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante and Catarratto for a total surface area of under 1,200 hectares. Modern winemaking takes place across four volcano slopes: the Northern slope, which has the highest concentration and number of growers and also the gentlest slopes with a predominant production of Nerello Mascalese; the Eastern slope which overlaps the Ionian Sea where the white grape Carricante is dominant; the South-Eastern slope with has several extinct eruptive cones and enjoys dominant sun and sea breezes, where both Nerello Mascalese and Carricante can easily reach perfect ripeness; and the South-Western slope, which is further from the sea and often exceeds 1000 meters above sea level, where great solar intensity and less rain coupled with being the furthest from the sea makes it an interesting place for all wines. On the slopes of Mount Etna the production areas are divided into 133 “Contrade”, individual districts that mirror the peculiarities of the soils and tend to reflect a unique microclimate of exposure and sciare, the geological history and composition of lava flows in a given area. Producers can indicate the contrada, much like a cru, on their labels.