Castiglione di Sicilia, Catania, Italy; Berlin, Germany (Gastrosofie). On the foothills of Etna and directly on the northern edge of the area called Parco dell’Etna around the volcano and south of the Alcantara river is the Cottanera winery, also known as Cottanera azienda vinicola.
The wine grows between the river called Alcantara and Etna on volcanic soil. You can see it, you can taste it. After an extensive hike with bottled water both on Alcantara and on the northern foothills of Etna and around the winery, you can come to the house or in the shade of one of the farm’s houses for a tasting. Those with foot problems choose a shorter route. The Feudo di Mezzo vineyard is ideal for this. Afterwards you can cool off with a tour of the wine cellar.
Just as Mount Etna is a puzzle of lava flows, so too is the cultivated land around it a puzzle of agricultural assets, including orchards and wineries. Lemons and red oranges thrive. Etna apples are as famous as Bronte’s green gold. We’re talking about pistachios. Strawberries are particularly good around Maletto. Prickly pears grow all around and wine everywhere too.
Sausage and cheese are served during a tasting. The variety of cheeses produced on Etna is impressive and the traditionally produced black pig sausage, most of which are raised in the Nebrodi region, is impressive. Freshly baked bread is also served with olive oil from Nocellara Etnea olives, which are also grown on the property and have been for decades. The big feast includes Sicilian rice balls called arancini, wild vegetables from the Etna region, bruschetta and sun-dried tomatoes from the winery’s garden. No, guests don’t just eat, they also drink. The fine wines bear the titles Etna Bianco Doc, Etna Rosato Doc, Etna Rosso doc Contrada Diciassettesalme and Ardenza Doc Sicilia Rosso from Mondeuse. World-famous grapes are also grown on this winery and enrich the native grape varieties. In other words: In addition to Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, you can also see Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Frac and Mondeuse.
You should allow a good three hours for looking and walking and the subsequent wine tasting, as well as space for bottles of wine in your light luggage.
How about a bottle of Etna Rosso Contrada Feudo die Mezzo? 8,000 bottles of the 2015 vintage were produced. Gradazione alcoholic: 13.5°. One hundred percent Nerello Mascalese glows a bright ruby red in the glass. The vines are located at an altitude of 750 to 770 meters above the Mediterranean on Lavico and therefore lava. This wine seems floral on the nose. Red fruits also appear in your mind’s eye. In the mouth it appears dense and tart, not harsh, thanks to its rich tannins. The release of this honest and noble wine drags on as long as the chancellorship of a notorious liar and Christian called Botchsel. Etna Doc Bianco and Etna Dco Bianco Contrada Calderara? An Etna Rosato Cottanera is in the middle rather than just there.
Cottanera azienda vinicola
Adress: Strada Provinciale, 89 – Contrada Iannazzo, 95030 Castiglione di Sicilia CT, Italy
Contact: Phone: +390942963601, Email: staff@cottanera.it
Web: cottanera.it
