PART II: Experimental Etna -Why Etna was one of the greats even before The Risorgimento

Sicily and even specifically, Mt. Etna, was an in demand territory and its invasions from various groups, from the Phoenicians to the Greeks to the Arabs, have all left a lasting impact on the culture and the wine!

Mt. Etna was a hub even during the Crusades- people have been drawn to the volcano for thousands of years, each group leaving their mark. In the 1800s, when winemaking took a technological and more serious turn, that we universally attribute to the French, Etna was one of the first zones to hop on board the innovation. Like Barolo, it was even thought that Mt. Etna wines would contribute somehow to the Unification of Italy- bringing together cultural traditions from the North and South.

In this glass, we will geek out over some very cool historical information, as well as open bottles of those keeping the experimental tradition on the Volcano alive via winemaking and incorporation of different grape varieties, that while may not be considered "native" to the area, have some pretty serious historical significance. 

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 yea will all be included in your kit (if you did not receive it already in the previous class).

*it’s not possible to send a sample of bubbles in the vial, but there is an option to purchase the bottle if you'd like to try along and learn about Etna's deep sparkling wine tradition!