Tenuta delle Terre Nere is located in Sicily, on the northern slopes of Etna, its extremely old vines digging deep into volcanic sands, ash and basaltic rock. Except for 7 hectares recently planted, the rest are between 50 and 100 years old. One parcel, having survived phylloxera, has reached the venerable age of 130-140 years old.
Tenuta delle Terre Nere’s Winemaking History
The estate stands in the finest area for red wine – northern slope of Etna, with vineyards between the village of Solicchiata and the town of Randazzo, between 600 and a 1000 meters of altitude – in an appellation recognised today as one of the finest in Europe, its vineyards in seven of the appellation’s very finest crus. Indeed, ever since its establishment Tenuta delle Terre Nere has been seminal in forging the renaissance of this unique microcosm of terroirs, where viticulture has been uninterruptedly practiced for over 3,000 years.
Vintage after vintage it has produced fine wines, that have gathered attention worldwide. Remarkable winemaking, we believe, is a cultural endeavour in which beauty (aesthetics) and good (ethics) guide technique and craftsmanship.
The Winemaking Process – From The Grape to The Bottle
For example, every year, we vinify over 70 different tanks, coming from our 40 parcels: an expensive and meticulous process which, vintage after vintage, allow us to recognise and identify the specific personality of each of the “Contrada”[1]. In fact, due to the multi-faceted nature of the soil, coming from overlapping layers of lava flows, within the same parcel you might be able to find completely different soil. In our genuine devotion to the “terroir”, we understood that putting everything together would make it no justice, if anything, it would actually disguise its nature. That’s why we vinify according to the nature of the soil, taking the time that it’s needed – sometimes it’s years – in order to achieve the truest expression of the “Contrada”.
With the least possible intervention: we leave the beauty of the grapes, coming from a year of hard workmanship, to express themselves in the cellar, adopting an “invisible winemaking” technique. We are, in fact, only the “midwives” of wine, helping it to go from the grape to the bottle.
The degree and the depth of details may sometimes seem obsessive, but it’s all aiming to the positive tension towards perfection.
Sustainability Is At The Heart of What We Do
Fine wine and respect for our environment are interconnected, and Tenuta delle Terre Nere has pioneered both organic viticulture and sustainable development at all levels. The safeguard of nature and of the beauty of our territory, a responsible use of resources and a continuous investment in human resources we have woven into a tapestry that informs the classic beauty of all our wines.
Refined fingers weaving deftly through soil and stone creating shade upon shade of chromatic and sensorial variations.
To find out more visit www.tenutaterrenere.com .
Notes
[1] A Contrada is the term used on the Etna DOC appellation to identify specific areas: there are 133 “Contrade” within the appellation.
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