TENUTA DI FESSINA
SICILY / ETNA / Rovitello
Tenuta di Fessina, nestled amidst the picturesque landscape of Rovitello, stands as a testament to the unwavering passion and dedication of its founder, the late Silvia Maestrelli. Her love affair with the land began in 2006, and by 2007 she had established the winery, bringing on a team of esteemed consultants and collaborators. The talented Jacopo Maniaci now oversees the entire estate with the goal to enhance the true expression of the indigenous genotypes through the constant study of the specific terroirs of Etna.
The winery’s holdings are scattered on 10 hectares vineyards situated at an elevation of 600 Meters, as well as an additional one between the villages of Milo and Santa Maria di Licodìa, situated at a lofty 900 meters. The vineyards in Rovitello are uniquely protected by ancient semi-circular lava flows, much like a French "clos," that act as natural barriers, isolating the vineyard and allowing for optimal growing conditions.
This unique location, straddling both sides of the mountain, enables the Tenuta di Fessina to cultivate an exquisite array of indigenous grape varieties. The winery exclusively works with these local grapes, with the red varieties like Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, and the rare Minnella thriving on the north side, while the white varieties, such as Carricante, flourish on the south side, acquiring both minerality and roundness, complementing its structural acidity.
The winery prides itself on its sustainable farming practices, utilizing minimal intervention in the vineyards and relying on traditional, hand-done farming methods. The age of the vines ranges from 70 to 110 years old, a testament to the winery's commitment to preserving the rich heritage of the land.
Owner
Region
Sub-region
Farming
Harvest
Size
Grapes Grown
Website
Vineland Rep.
Maestrelli Family
and Jacopo Maniaci.
Sicily
Etna
Organic
Manual
10 hectares
Carricante,Minnella, Catarratto,
Nerello Mascalese, Nerello
Cappuccio
Reach out to confirm your country availability
Tenuta di Fessina 'Erse Bianco'
Erse, the call of the sunrise and the dew at dawn. "The blue of the drops of the dew." The blue of the sky of Etna.
Denomination: Etna Bianco D.O.C.
Varietals: Carricante 90%, Catarratto, Minnella 10%
Production Area: Biancavilla and Milo
Vineyard Surface: 2 ha in Biancavilla and 2 ha in Milo
Age of the Vines: 70 years-Biancavilla, 90 years-Milo
Exposition: South Biancavilla, East Milo
Altitude: 900 mt Biancavilla / 950 mt Milo
Soil Composition: Biancavilla, Contrada Manzudda.
Vinification: static decantation for 24-36 hours, racking and fermentation start
Fermentation: alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks under temperature control
Aging: In bottle for 6-8 months
Notes: Erse Bianco boasts a straw yellow color with green shades, exuding aromas of broom, mountain herbs, lemon peel, almond, and white flowers, while on the palate, it presents a flinty, sapid, high acidity, toasted, persistent herbaceous, and saline finish.
93
2018
RV
91
2019
WE
Tenuta di Fessina ‘Il Musmeci Bianco’ Contrada Caselle
A frame of an iconic Contrada, a manual selection made by a few centennial "Alberelli". A Carricante that carries with him the sea memory and the unicity of Milo, a limited edition that encloses the essence of the Eastern slope of Mt. Etna.
Denomination: Etna Bianco D.O.C.
Varietal: Carricante 100%
Vineyard Surface: 0.5 ha
Age of the Vines: 90 years old 7 original rootstock
Exposition: Est
Altitude: 950 mt.
Soil Composition: The eastern side of Mount Etna is home to the Contrada Caselle vineyards in Milo, where Carricante grapes thrive. This region experiences high rainfall and complex soil compositions due to centuries of volcanic activity, resulting in layers of minerals, salts, pumice, lapilli, fine ash, and more. This terroir, characterized by its subacid reaction and fertility, produces wines with a high total acidity and a distinct and typical expression of the Carricante grape. The unique growing conditions in this area, such as the high altitude and potential for late-ripening and aging, allows for the cultivation of grapes with unparalleled taste and longevity.
Vinification: 2 years in stainless steel, 6 months in tonneau and 2 years in bottle
Notes: Il Musmeci Bianco presents a straw yellow color with green shades, and boasts a bouquet of herbs, lemon thyme, vanilla, wax, and citrus zest, while on the palate it is complex and vertical, with a sharp and savoury finish.
92
2017
RV
93
2019
VINOUS
Tenuta di Fessina 'A’Puddara'
It is a wine dedicated to Sicily and, like the Pleiades, which are a pulsating object in the sky, it is a small continent that has a heart that pulsates in the middle of the Mediterranean. A 'Puddara - "le gallinelle" or "la chioccia" for fishermen and farmers, in memory of the poetry of Ovid - was a sign that indicated the direction in work and in life. Let's imagine the fishermen from Riposto who come back from the sea and who, looking up on the volcano, spot the Pleiades hidden behind the summit just where, as if it were a hanging garden, the vineyard of our Carricante rests. It is a rigorous wine outlined like A 'Muntagna that stands out in the night ...
Denomination: Etna Bianco D.O.C.
Varietal: Carricante100%
Production Area: Biancavilla, Contrada Manzudda.
Vineyard Surface: 2 ha
Age of the vines: 73 years
Exposition: South
Altitude: 900 mt
Vinification: Crushing without de-stemming after careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard and on the sorting belt in the cellar, soft pressing with separation of the musts cold static decantation; Direct fermentation in 3500-liter French oak barrels.
Aging: Refined on the lees for 6-8 months.
Notes: Mediterranean scrub, Spanish broom, orange zest, toast and wet stone aromas form the nose. Elegantly structured, the palate offers lemon peel, yellow apple and toasted almond before a saline finish. It's bright in fresh acidity.
94
2019
JS
93
2020
FALSTAFF
Tenuta di Fessina 'Erse Rosato'
Erse, the call of the sunrise and the dew at dawn. "The blue of the drops of the dew." The blue of the sky of Etna.
Denomination: Etna Rosato D.O.C.
Varietals: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio
Production Area: Rovittello
Vineyard Surface: 1 ha
Age of vines: 17 years
Exposition: Nord-East
Altitude: 700 mt.
Vinification: Soft de-stemming and crushing with rollers after a careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard and on the sorting belt in the cellar; cold pre-maceration on the peels for 2-14 °C for 12 hours. Fermentation with hat raising and continuation of the same in stainless steel.
Notes: Erse Rosato boasts a raspberry rose color, with aromas of dry flowers, sour cherry, pomegranate, and acacia honey, while on the palate it is complex, fresh, and has an intense and well-balanced acidity. A structured and ample rose, savory and mineral, with a long and persistent finish.
92
2020
RV
93
2021
WE
Tenuta di Fessina 'ERSE ROSSO'
Erse, the call of the sunrise and the dew at dawn. "The blue of the drops of the dew." The blue of the sky of Etna.
Denomination: Etna Rosso D.O.C.
Varietals: Nerello Mascalese 90%, Nerello Cappuccio 8%, Minnella, Carricante 2%
Production Areo: Rovittello
Vineyard Surface: 6 ha
Age of the Vines: 73 years
Exposition: North-East
Altitude: 700 mt.
Vinification: soft de-stemming and crushing with rollers after a careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard and on the sorting belt in the cellar. Fermentation with controlled temperature maceration in stainless steel tanks; 6 to 9 days of maceration depending on the vintages, fermentation temperatures between 23 and 26 ° c to extract color and perfumes.
Aging: In bottle for at least one year.
Notes: Erse Rosso boasts a light ruby color and a bouquet of wild berries, coriander, cloves, pimento, and pink pepper. On the palate, it presents austere yet soft tannins, with a round and spicy profile. Erse tells an old story about Etna winemaking, where for hundred years the red grapes have been mixed with the white ones, a marriage between indigenous varieties. A picture of our melting pot vineyard where tastes and roots are blended together, creating a feminine complexity.
93
2019
RV
92
2020
JS
Tenuta di Fessina ‘Erse Rosso Contrada Moscamento 1911'
A dedication to mother Etna, to her richness and fertility. A wine born from a manual selection of a single eruption, a frame, a portrait of the Volcano.
Denomination: Etna Rosso D.O.C.
Varietal: Nerello Mascalese 100%
Production Area: Rovittello, 1911 Eruption
Vineyard Surface: 0.5ha
Age of the Vines: 91 years
Exposition: North-East
Altitude: 700 mt
Vinification: Soft de-stemming and crushing with rollers after a careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard and on the sorting belt in the cellar. Fermentation with controlled temperature maceration in stainless steel tanks; 6 to 9 days of maceration depending on the vintages, fermentation temperatures between 23 and 26 ° c to extract color and perfumes.
Aging: In French oak tonneaux and 35hl barrels for 24 months, plus 12 months in bottle.
Notes: Moscamento 1911 boasts a light ruby color, with a bouquet of violet, ink, pink pepper, iron, and wild red berries. On the palate, it presents round and soft tannins, with a spicy and velvety profile, high vertical acidity and a sweet, herbaceous and persistent finish.
92
2017
JS
92
2018
FALSTAFF
Tenuta di Fessina 'Il Musmeci' Rosso
We decided to dedicate our CRU of Nerello Mascalese to the Musmeci family, and especially to Mr. Ignazio Musmeci, the one who for many years has kept "I Vigne di Fessina" with so much love that allowed us to work on vines of over eighty years old . It is the story of this extraordinary land, with its landscapes, its colors, its civilization that interweave with the destiny of people. And to the wine that will be born.
Denomination: Etna Rosso D.O.C. Riserva.
Varietal: Nerello Mascalese 100%
Production Area: Rovittello
Vineyard Surface: 6 ha
Age of the Vines: 91 years
Exposition: North -East
Altitude: 700 mt
Vinification: Soft destemming-crushing with rollers after a careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard and on the sorting belt in the cellar. Fermentation in red with maceration on the skins for 10-15 days at a temperature between 25 and 28 °C; Maceration of 10-15 days.
Aging: 10 -12 months in French oak barrels of 5 hl, after another step in big oak barrels of 35 hl for 6-8 months, final aging in bottle for at least 4 years.
Notes: In the glass, this wine is decisive and very fragrant, alternating notes of pressed red flowers with elegant shades of magnolias, gardenias, linden, lemon and white pepper. It has a medium-full body, smooth and silky tannins and a finish of admirable beauty. Enjoy now or age it.
92
2019
VINOUS
94
2018
FALSTAFF
