Etna Rosso DOC 'Profumo di Vulcano' 2019 (750 ml.) Federico Graziani

THE WINE

'Scent of Volcano' by Federico Graziani is primarily made from nerello mascalese and nerello cappuccio grapes, with a few bunches of alicante and francisi added. It ferments without temperature control and with only indigenous yeasts, resting for at least 18 months in small wooden barrels, without undergoing racking and filtration. The “Scent of Volcano” is a masterpiece of winemaking, born from the mind and hands of Federico Graziani, who is truly a well-rounded figure in the wine world. It is an elegant and intriguing red wine, with seductive aromas and a refined palate. Reserved for the most important occasions, it is a red that captivates from the very first sip…: it is a red that makes you fall in love.

THE COMPANY

Born in Ravenna in the mid-1970s, Federico Graziani has been passionate about the world of wine since he was very young, to the point that at just 15 years old, in 1990 to be exact, he attended his first sommelier course, starting a journey that would see him become a professional sommelier at just 19. In 1998, he achieved definitive recognition by winning the competition for “Best Sommelier in Italy” at the age of 23. Following that, there were only confirmations of his great talent, as he began collaborating with the most important chefs and restaurateurs across the Peninsula. And then there are his writings, with the publication of the books “Great Wines from Small Wineries” and “Author Wines”. Then came the science, with his enrollment and subsequent degree in viticulture and oenology, obtained in 2006. Since 2012, area manager for central-northern Italy of Feudi di San Gregorio, Federico Graziani is truly an important figure in the wine world, among the few who can boast versatile skills, knowledge, and experiences in multiple areas of winemaking. Thus, it was only natural for him to gain experience as a winemaker and producer, which brings us directly to the slopes of Etna, in Castiglione di Sicilia, in the province of Catania, in the “Contrada Feudo di Mezzo” of Passopisciaro. We are about 700 meters above sea level: the vineyards, trained as bush vines, consist of plants averaging 75 years old, although it is not uncommon to encounter century-old vines. Among the rows, all work is done manually, with no pesticides or systemic treatments used, and the grapes are treated solely with copper and sulfur. Balanced, rich, and concentrated bunches arrive in the winery to be enhanced, highlighting all the nuances that the season and territory have shaped in the fruit. Fermentation relies solely on indigenous yeasts, while aging is carried out in small never-new wooden barrels, lasting no more than 12-14 months. Thus, the “Scent of Volcano” is born, which, along with the Red of Etna, represents the two labels currently produced by Federico Graziani. Two wines that tell the most beautiful stories of the good giant of Sicily, that volcano which, from an oenological perspective, has been providing immense satisfaction for years and will continue to do so even more in the future.