SRC – Etna Bianco 2023

Description

Etna Bianco 2023 is a natural wine crafted by SRC, in the Sicily region in Italy. This white wine is made with 80% Carricante and 20% Grecanico  grapes, grown at 650m altitude on the Mount Etna volcano

Honestly, in our opinion there really are not enough direct press white Etna wines made in the natural world! Too often they rely on skin-contact maceration and the brilliant volcanic touches get lost in the mix. This one put a smile on our face because it embraced the fact such wines should in our opinion be white – not orange.

SRC takes its name from the initials of the three people behind it – Rori and Cinzia, and their daughter Sandra. They started in 2013 with a production of 3,000 bottles and have grown steadily, now working around plots spread across several Contrade between Solicchiata & Randazzo on the north side of Mount Etna. The north face of Etna is where the most serious wines come from, just so you know. The vines are 50 to 70 years old, grown in black, sandy volcanic soil at altitudes ranging from 650 up to 1,000 metres. 

As for the taste, what’s cool and unexpected is a tiny little gas giving it a spritzy feel.

We suggest to decant this for 30 minutes and serve in big glasses to give the nose more depth, which is a little shy. It’s both a little salty and sunny, with a mineralic edge and volcanic tension on the palate that reminds you exactly where it comes from – that volcanic ground are present in the glass. Pops of bruised apple, white pepper and citrussy undertones keep this wine fresh, whilst the soft gas keeps it dancing on the tongue and reminding you of its naturalness.