Carricante is a native white grape variety from Etna, the most widespread in the province of Catania. Cultivated on the slopes of volcano for its majority, especially at high altitudes from 500 to 1.000 meters above sea level in order to take advantage of bigger thermal excursion ideal for greater aromas in the grape and where by the way Nerello Mascalese struggles to ripen.
According to historical evidence, Carricante has been grown for over a thousand years. Its name probably comes from the local dialect “Carricanti” which relates to the productive capacity of this vine, which can give abundant harvests in favorable years.
This variety is crucial for high quality white wines production in particular under Etna Bianco DOC, so that unlike other fellow producers, we have decided to do its wine making by using 100% Carricante therefore never blended to other white grape varieties allowed by the district in law instead.
A choice to be not underestimated, it gives the opportunity to propose a so straight and austere Etna DOC Bianco wine more on the verticality furthermore with the aim of building our own interpretation of the northern slope identity here at volcano as best as we can.
At Massimo Lentsch Etna, Carricante grapes found their home into the vineyards planted close to an ancient “palmento” where our new bio-energetic cellar is rising. Right between the volcano (located behind our shoulders) and the Nebrodi mountains, which give protection and real shelter for our alberello vines, our northern exposed 4.50 HA Carricante’s corp finds its ideal environment. Located between 600-700 meters above sea level in altitude and made up of both alluvional sandy and stoney volcanic deposits rich in black pomice.
Here the Etna Bianco is marked by a pleasant freshness and rich in flavors, such a vibrant sip and a prounced complexity as aromatic profile, very often with an intriguing ending thank to the volcanic soil features!
