Nerello Mascalese

Mount Etna's pale, ash-tinged, Burgundy-like red.

Nerello Mascalese is the indigenous grape of Mount Etna, planted on volcanic slopes between 600 and 1000 meters elevation. It produces unexpectedly pale, ethereal reds — often compared to Burgundy or Nebbiolo — with red-cherry fruit, smoky-volcanic minerality, and firm acid and tannin. Old-vine bush plantings on terraced ash and lava soils command premium prices. The grape blends with Nerello Cappuccio for Etna Rosso DOC; some producers bottle 100% Nerello Mascalese as varietal Etna.