2022 Sul Vulcano Etna Rosso Nerello Mascalese, Donnafugata

• Style: Pale ruby, fresh and silky
• Taste: Red cherry, raspberry, white pepper, mint and mineral spine
• Food: Grilled lamb, roasted beef, pasta and risotto
• Occasion: Sunday lunch or date night
• Serve: 14% ABV, drink now or cellar 3–5 years

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Pale ruby and bright, this wine arrives with red cherry and raspberry, a whisper of mint and white pepper threading through from its time in oak. The tannins are soft and well-mannered, the acidity crisp enough to cut through a plate of grilled lamb or roasted beef. At 14% ABV, it has the refinement to drink well on its own, yet the mineral spine to anchor a good meal.

The Winery — Donnafugata

The Rallo family established their label in 1983 and now operates four estates across Sicily, championing the island's native varieties. This wine comes from their 18 hectares on Etna's north slopes (730–750 metres altitude, between Randazzo and Passopiscaro) where deep mineral-rich volcanic soils give the vines character. The 2022 vintage was exceptional: generous spring and autumn rains built robust water reserves, temperatures stayed steady, and grapes ripened with real quality despite slightly smaller yields. The winemaker's technique is restrained—selection on a vibrating table, skin contact over ten days in stainless steel, then twelve months split between oak and tank before a further ten months in bottle, coaxing depth without heavy-handedness.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This Nerello Mascalese thrives on volcanic slopes and pairs beautifully with roasted lamb, grilled meats, beef and steak, or a warming braise. It's equally at home with pasta and risotto, making it the natural choice for a Sunday lunch or date night. Explore volcanic reds from Sicily and discover what this corner of the Mediterranean produces—or deepen your knowledge of Italy's finest native varieties with this bottle as your guide.