PAST EVENT PART I: Mt. Etna Masterclass IN PERSON

Mt. Etna Masterclass

Saturday April 6th

3-5:30pm

Oakland, CA

Seating limited to 12 people

15% of sales will be donated to World Central Kitchen and MAP- Medical Aid for Palestine, for relief efforts on Gaza. Please consider donating more- your extra donation will 100% go to these organizations.

The term "Masterclass" is thrown around a lot and honestly, I've been to many "Masterclasses" that just felt like someone speaking tasting notes into a microphone. This is not that, nor will any class I offer be that.

I have been traveling to Mt. Etna for 6 years, spending significant time with producers and pioneers like Ben Spencer, the award winning author of The New Wines of Mt. Etna. My goal is to clearly and interestingly guide you through what could otherwise be an overload of technical information, so you can walk away with a more nuanced grasp of the volcano, it’s various eruptions and wines. You will create your own sensory memory as you engage with the wines. I am your guide, you are the creator.

We will be popping high end bottles, talking about the geologic evolution of the volcano itself, its different lava flows, and how the zone isn't just simply "volcanic", but different volcanic material at different states of erosion, which certainly affects the wine. Also, why is Milo the only commune within the DOC that can make a "superiore" wine?

WE WILL HAVE MAPS- the Cittavino & Co. map as well as the soil map of Etna, and the map of the contrade that the consorzio published late last year.

I will be cooking up some substantial Sicilian snacks for us, like arancini, and my favorite Piacentinu Ennese cheese will be making an appearance.

🔑 takeaways:

🌋 Mt. Etna’s eruptive patterns and how eruptions f the ancient past influence today’s wine- we’re going side by side with wines from different soil types

🍇 grape varieties and their history in the region

💫 Prominent producers, their contribution to the Etna Renaissance- why it’s important to know them

Wines:

• 2021 Girolamo Russo S. Lorenzo Etna Bianco
• 2022 Foti I Vigneri "Aurora" Bianco (Sicilia IGT, from Milo)
• 2020 I Custodi "Imbris" Etna Bianco Superiore
• 2020 Barone Villa Grande Etna Bianco Superiore
• 2020 Palmento Costanzo Cavaliere Etna Bianco 
• 2021 Terre Nere Etna Rosso
• 2019 Biondi "Outis" Etna Rosso
• 2020 Filippo Grasso Ripiddu (Calderara Sottana) Etna Rosso
• 2019 Girolamo Russo Calderara Sottana Etna Rosso
• 2020 Masseria Setteporte Etna Rosso
• 2017 I Custodi Aetneus Etna Rosso