Giuseppe Russo took over the family's old Nerello Mascalese vineyards in 2005 after his father Girolamo died. Fifteen hectares of organically farmed vines between 650 and 780 metres on Etna's north slope produce sought-after single-vineyard reds including San Lorenzo and a Rina.
Signature wines: russo-san-lorenzo, russo-a-rina, russo-feudo
Address: Via Regina Margherita 78, 95012 Passopisciaro (CT), Sicily, Italy
Founded in 1900, Calabretta is a long-established Etna family winery. The fourth generation farms 12.5 hectares of ungrafted old vines with copper and sulphur only, producing low-intervention wines from Nerello Mascalese on the north slope.
Tasting: Visits by appointment at the Randazzo estate. Contact via calabretta.net.
Signature wines: calabretta-gaio-gaio, calabretta-etna-rosso, calabretta-vigne-vecchie
Cottanera is a family estate on Etna's north slope producing both native Nerello-based Etna DOC wines and international varieties grown at high altitude.
Tasting: Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 17:00, booking essential. Guided vineyard, cellar and tasting experiences.
Signature wines: cottanera-barbazzale-bianco, cottanera-fatagione, cottanera-calderara
A historic estate on Etna's eastern slopes, Murgo introduced its traditional-method sparkling wine from Nerello Mascalese in 1990. The 30-hectare property has been in the Scammacca del Murgo family since 1860.
Tasting: Wine tastings available Monday to Saturday 11:30 to 14:00. Restaurant and accommodation on site.
Signature wines: murgo-brut-metodo-classico, murgo-etna-rosso, murgo-etna-bianco
Belgian wine merchant Frank Cornelissen established his estate on Etna's north slope in 2001, working without added sulphur. His Magma cuvée comes from ungrafted pre-phylloxera Nerello vines above 1,000 metres in the Solicchiata zone, in production runs of around 2,000 bottles.
Tasting: Five tasting experiences from the Classic (5 wines, EU40) to the Magma private (6 crus including Grand Vin Magma, EU1,400 for up to 6 people). E-bike vineyard tours available. Book via [email protected].
Signature wines: cornelissen-magma, cornelissen-munjebel-rosso, cornelissen-munjebel-bianco
Founded in 1900, Calabretta is a long-established Etna family winery. The fourth generation farms 12.5 hectares of ungrafted old vines with copper and sulphur only, producing low-intervention wines from Nerello Mascalese on the north slope.
Tasting: Visits by appointment at the Randazzo estate. Contact via calabretta.net.
Signature wines: calabretta-gaio-gaio, calabretta-etna-rosso, calabretta-vigne-vecchie
Cottanera is a family estate on Etna's north slope producing both native Nerello-based Etna DOC wines and international varieties grown at high altitude.
Tasting: Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 17:00, booking essential. Guided vineyard, cellar and tasting experiences.
Signature wines: cottanera-barbazzale-bianco, cottanera-fatagione, cottanera-calderara
A historic estate on Etna's eastern slopes, Murgo introduced its traditional-method sparkling wine from Nerello Mascalese in 1990. The 30-hectare property has been in the Scammacca del Murgo family since 1860.
Tasting: Wine tastings available Monday to Saturday 11:30 to 14:00. Restaurant and accommodation on site.
Signature wines: murgo-brut-metodo-classico, murgo-etna-rosso, murgo-etna-bianco
Belgian wine merchant Frank Cornelissen established his estate on Etna's north slope in 2001, working without added sulphur. His Magma cuvée comes from ungrafted pre-phylloxera Nerello vines above 1,000 metres in the Solicchiata zone, in production runs of around 2,000 bottles.
Tasting: Five tasting experiences from the Classic (5 wines, EU40) to the Magma private (6 crus including Grand Vin Magma, EU1,400 for up to 6 people). E-bike vineyard tours available. Book via [email protected].
Signature wines: cornelissen-magma, cornelissen-munjebel-rosso, cornelissen-munjebel-bianco
Founded in 1980 by Giambattista Cilia, Cirino Strano and Giusto Occhipinti, COS adopted biodynamic farming and amphora (pithos) fermentation in Sicily from the 1990s.
Tasting: Winery visits by reservation only. Contact via the COS website or telephone (+39 0932 876145).
Signature wines: cos-cerasuolo-di-vittoria, cos-pithos-rosso, cos-rami
Arianna Occhipinti started with one hectare along the SP68 road in 2004 and has grown to 40 hectares farmed organically and biodynamically. Her SP68 Rosso blends Frappato and Nero d'Avola from low-yielding organic plots and is distributed widely through specialist natural-wine importers.
Tasting: Visits by reservation year-round, mornings or afternoons. Vineyard walk, cellar tour and wine and oil tasting with olives and bruschetta. Languages: Italian, English, French. Contact +39 0932 1865519.
Signature wines: occhipinti-sp68-rosso, occhipinti-sp68-bianco, occhipinti-siccagno
