Profile

Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninfirm
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Oaklarge or old casks

Drinking window

Best 4 to 15 years from vintage.

vintage4 yrs15 yrs17 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong, Mineral finish

Aroma: dark cherry, rose, volcanic mineral, tobacco

Palate: cherry-plum, iron mineral, dried herbs, firm tannin

Ripa di Moraci is Cavanera's prestige Etna Rosso from the Verzella contrada: a firm-structured, mineral Nerello showcasing the quality achievable at the Firriato Etna estate.

What it pairs with

With cheese

Maiorchino Our pick Maiorchino is delicate for a pecorino when young and turns piquant, ageing from about 8 months to as long as 24. Etna Rosso crus bring firm tannin, high acidity and dark cherry depth, the structure for an old, sharp wheel.

How to serve Firriato Cavanera Ripa di Moraci

Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Slow-cooked lamb shoulder with Sicilian herbs, Wild mushroom pasta with Parmigiano, Grilled Sicilian beef tagliata. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Ripa di Moraci (meaning 'bank of the mulberry trees') is named for a distinctive feature of the Cavanera estate landscape on the north slope. Introduced in 2012 as the estate's prestige Etna Rosso, it draws on the oldest Nerello vines in the Verzella contrada.

  1. 2012First Ripa di Moraci vintage; Cavanera's prestige Etna Rosso tier established

Facts

Producer
Firriato Cavanera Etnea · visiting guide
Grapes
Nerello Mascalese (90%), Nerello Cappuccio (10%)
Classification
Etna Rosso DOC
Oak
18 months in large Slavonian oak botti
ABV
13.5%
Price
€35-55 at retail
Drinking window
4-15 from vintage
First vintage
2012

Frequently asked about Firriato Cavanera Ripa di Moraci

What does Firriato Cavanera Ripa di Moraci taste like?

On the nose, dark cherry, rose, volcanic mineral, tobacco. On the palate, cherry-plum, iron mineral, dried herbs, firm tannin. Structurally medium-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long, mineral finish. Ripa di Moraci is Cavanera's prestige Etna Rosso from the Verzella contrada: a firm-structured, mineral Nerello showcasing the quality achievable at the Firriato Etna estate.

When should I drink Firriato Cavanera Ripa di Moraci?

Drink 4-15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Firriato Cavanera Ripa di Moraci?

Slow-cooked lamb shoulder with Sicilian herbs is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Wild mushroom pasta with Parmigiano and Grilled Sicilian beef tagliata. Firm tannins and mineral depth frame the herb-infused slow-cooked lamb.

What grapes are in Firriato Cavanera Ripa di Moraci?

The blend is Nerello Mascalese (90%), Nerello Cappuccio (10%). The wine is classified as Etna Rosso DOC.

Tags

dry firm tannin high acid medium body medium term mood contemplative mood savoury nerello cappuccio nerello mascalese occasion cellar occasion special old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with mushroom pairs with red meat price premium single vineyard still red

Taste it where it is made: tastings near Firriato Cavanera Etnea

Etna wine tours (61) · Wine tastings and winery visits in Sicily (51) · Wine tours and day trips in Sicily (44)

See all 2017 bookable experiences in Sicily

← Back to wines in Sicily