Benanti Etna New Arrivals
Benanti was the first estate I visited on Etna back in the early 2000s. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that. The excellence of Benanti wines attracted wine lovers from all over the world when the area was relatively unknown. MONICA LARNER
ITALIAN WINERY OF THE YEAR - Gambero Rosso
TOP 100 WINERY OF THE YEAR - Wine & Spirits Magazine USA
Timeless and ageworthy, these are bottles that invite reflection on centuries of winemaking heritage and a deep connection with a landscape defined by the elements in all their untamed power. DECANTER
Sometimes you get a gift as a wine importer.
Last year we became the official importer of the wines of the Etna pioneer and benchmark producer, Benanti. That’s a coup, a very special moment; Benanti are one of the originals, one of the few pioneering producers that predate all the hype. In fact, it was the wines they made under founder Giuseppe Benanti and long-time winemaker Salvo Foti in the late 1980s (and now) that inspired the “gold rush” of those wanting to buy up land on the slopes. As Monica Larner writes,
he paved the way for a new generation of vintners to follow. Etna is one of Italy's most exciting wine territories today, and much of the credit goes to Giuseppe Benanti.
Giuseppe passed away in 2023 but his legacy, now in the hands of his twin sons, Antonio and Salvino, is quite special. This is the only estate that farms vineyards on all the slopes of Etna giving them a unique insight into the nature of the different terroirs of the volcano and an understanding and flexibility in how they position the fruit in a given vintage.
Speaking of fruit, Giuseppe was a proud Sicilian and he decided very early on that the estate would only grow and produce wines from the indigenous varieties of the volcano – Carricante, Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Carpuccio.
There are a few tiers to the range including the brilliant and limited wines from their Icon range like Pietra Marina, the Contrade range where they make individual contrade wines from each of the four slopes of Italy. These spans the five distinctive contrade: Calderara Sottana a Randazzo, Dafara Galluzzo in Rovittello, Castiglione di Sicilia; Rinazzo in Milo; Monte Serra in Viagrande and Cavaliere in Santa Maria di Licodìa.
Perhaps the banner bearers though are the brilliant wines that are essentially the introduction to Benanti, the traditional range. These are the two wines we’re offering for the first time today, the Etna Bianco and the Etna Rosso. Fruit is sourced for these bottling from across the estate holdings and in this way, they’re a true representation of the volcano the like of which no other estate can rival.
The bianco is 100% carricante from the eastern and southern slopes of Etna. It’s picked and pressed simply, fermented over 12 days in stainless steel. The resulting wine is racy and pure with the undeniable mineral origins of the soils vying for dominance on the saline fresh and citrussy fruit. It’s a textbook example.
The rosso, from fruit on the northern, north-east and eastern slopes of the volcano. It’s 80% nerello mascalese and 20% nerello carpuccio. Like the white, the idea here is to accentuate the varieties and the ground where they’re grown. To that end, fermentation is stainless steel, moderate maceration and then a portion of the nerello mascalese will go into second passge French oak.
The wine is all cruhchy red berries, rose petals and driving energy. The mineral, ashen of the volcano drift lightly over the fruit, reminding you of the its roots. Texturally it vascillates between refreshingly bright but then there's some good texture across the mid palate. It could stand a chill but it's not necessary.
We will offer some of the rest of the range later in the year but for now revel in the beauty of these two wines. If they are the “shingle on the door” of what Benanti is all about, then you’re gonna be very very happy to see the rest of the house!
I’ve also gone for a special opening 20% offer and a little more in a six-pack. You’ll never regret having these in the house. Pure enjoyment and unique wines; the kind that make you smile.
Cheers
Michael McNamara
ITALIAN WINERY OF THE YEAR - Gambero Rosso
TOP 100 WINERY OF THE YEAR - Wine & Spirits Magazine USA
Timeless and ageworthy, these are bottles that invite reflection on centuries of winemaking heritage and a deep connection with a landscape defined by the elements in all their untamed power. DECANTER
Sometimes you get a gift as a wine importer.
Last year we became the official importer of the wines of the Etna pioneer and benchmark producer, Benanti. That’s a coup, a very special moment; Benanti are one of the originals, one of the few pioneering producers that predate all the hype. In fact, it was the wines they made under founder Giuseppe Benanti and long-time winemaker Salvo Foti in the late 1980s (and now) that inspired the “gold rush” of those wanting to buy up land on the slopes. As Monica Larner writes,
he paved the way for a new generation of vintners to follow. Etna is one of Italy's most exciting wine territories today, and much of the credit goes to Giuseppe Benanti.
Giuseppe passed away in 2023 but his legacy, now in the hands of his twin sons, Antonio and Salvino, is quite special. This is the only estate that farms vineyards on all the slopes of Etna giving them a unique insight into the nature of the different terroirs of the volcano and an understanding and flexibility in how they position the fruit in a given vintage.
Speaking of fruit, Giuseppe was a proud Sicilian and he decided very early on that the estate would only grow and produce wines from the indigenous varieties of the volcano – Carricante, Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Carpuccio.
There are a few tiers to the range including the brilliant and limited wines from their Icon range like Pietra Marina, the Contrade range where they make individual contrade wines from each of the four slopes of Italy. These spans the five distinctive contrade: Calderara Sottana a Randazzo, Dafara Galluzzo in Rovittello, Castiglione di Sicilia; Rinazzo in Milo; Monte Serra in Viagrande and Cavaliere in Santa Maria di Licodìa.
Perhaps the banner bearers though are the brilliant wines that are essentially the introduction to Benanti, the traditional range. These are the two wines we’re offering for the first time today, the Etna Bianco and the Etna Rosso. Fruit is sourced for these bottling from across the estate holdings and in this way, they’re a true representation of the volcano the like of which no other estate can rival.
The bianco is 100% carricante from the eastern and southern slopes of Etna. It’s picked and pressed simply, fermented over 12 days in stainless steel. The resulting wine is racy and pure with the undeniable mineral origins of the soils vying for dominance on the saline fresh and citrussy fruit. It’s a textbook example.
The rosso, from fruit on the northern, north-east and eastern slopes of the volcano. It’s 80% nerello mascalese and 20% nerello carpuccio. Like the white, the idea here is to accentuate the varieties and the ground where they’re grown. To that end, fermentation is stainless steel, moderate maceration and then a portion of the nerello mascalese will go into second passge French oak.
The wine is all cruhchy red berries, rose petals and driving energy. The mineral, ashen of the volcano drift lightly over the fruit, reminding you of the its roots. Texturally it vascillates between refreshingly bright but then there's some good texture across the mid palate. It could stand a chill but it's not necessary.
We will offer some of the rest of the range later in the year but for now revel in the beauty of these two wines. If they are the “shingle on the door” of what Benanti is all about, then you’re gonna be very very happy to see the rest of the house!
I’ve also gone for a special opening 20% offer and a little more in a six-pack. You’ll never regret having these in the house. Pure enjoyment and unique wines; the kind that make you smile.
Cheers
Michael McNamara
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Benanti Etna Rosso 2022The 2022 Etna Rosso wafts up with a perfumed blend of rosy florals and hints of juniper berry. This is vividly fruit-focused, with a wave of ripe wild berries and sweet spices that flow across a stream of brisk acidity. It leaves a staining of primary concentration and mildly grippy tannins to resonate as violet inner florals slowly fade. While more extroverted than expected, the 2022 is a total pleasure to taste and maintains fantastic balance. ERIC GUIDO, Vinous
An iconic winery from Etna and one of the few with vineyards on all four slopes, Benanti has played a major role in the region’s rise. Considered a seminal, high-quality producer, they helped put Etna firmly on the global wine map. Their wines combine volcanic energy with elegance and structure.
2022Nerello MascaleseItaly482$65.00 As low as $58.50