Etna & the Wines of Sicily
Etna's volcanic wines look like Burgundy, feel like Burgundy, and cost a fraction of it. Here's why they matter — and what to drink.
· 6 min read
Key takeaways
- Etna Rosso is made from Nerello Mascalese — a thin-skinned, high-acid red grape with Pinot Noir-like elegance rather than the heavy, extracted style Sicily was once known for.
- Altitude is everything on Etna. At 600–1,000m, temperatures drop enough to give freshness and length that wines from Sicily's flat plains simply cannot match.
- Many Etna vineyards have never been replanted since phylloxera ravaged Europe in the late 19th century — old-vine pre-phylloxera vines still grow on lava soils, on their own roots.
- Etna Bianco from the Carricante grape is one of Italy's most underrated whites: mineral, saline, built to age, and almost unknown outside the island.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Etna wine really similar to Burgundy?
- In style, yes — more so than any other Italian red. The pale colour, the high acidity, the perfumed fruit, the mineral saline finish, the way a single contrada can taste completely different from its neighbour — all of this echoes the Burgundy experience. The grape (Nerello Mascalese) is not related to Pinot Noir, but the volcanic terroir and the cool altitude produce a similar result.
- What food goes with Etna Rosso?
- The high acidity and light structure make Etna Rosso very food-flexible. It works with grilled lamb, slow-roasted pork, mushroom-based pasta, risotto, aged pecorino, and particularly well with grilled fish — which is unusual for a red wine. The classic Sicilian pairing is swordfish or tuna.
- Are Etna wines expensive?
- They've risen in price over the last decade, but they're still considerably cheaper than the Burgundies they're most often compared to. A good entry-level Etna Rosso starts at CHF 20–30; a serious single-contrada wine from a top producer runs CHF 50–100. Top Burgundy at a comparable quality level costs 3–5 times as much.
- How long will an Etna wine age?
- Better than most Italian wines. Old-vine, single-contrada Etna Rosso from a top producer will develop for 15–20 years in a good vintage. The Carricante-based whites age for 10–15 years in the best cases. Even entry-level Etna Rosso improves for 5–8 years.
Not sure which wine to pick? Tell our sommelier what you are eating or the occasion and we will find the right bottle — or browse the full sommelia.ch collection.