TORNATORE
SICILY/ ETNA / Castiglione di Sicilia
It is in the volcanic soils of Mt. Etna where the Tornatore family has set deep, centuries old roots. The Tornatores, one the oldest wine growing families on Mt. Etna, have lived in Sicily since 1680 and trace their Etna grape growing back to 1865. That heritage and the Tornatore’s profound respect and understanding of the land is showcased in wines that capture the essence of Etna, deftly balancing concentrated flavors, complexity, freshness and refinement.
The Tornatore’s Etna roots have long grounded them in the flavors and patterns of their region, and it was this knowledge that inspired Francesco Tornatore to found his family’s winery in the town of Castiglione di Sicilia in 2010, nearly a century and a half after his great grandfather first planted vineyards on Mt. Etna.
Tornatore blends artisan and modern winemaking to craft wines such as the Bianco and Rosso that display the full range of fruit and complex personality of Etna terroir, and single vineyard wines—Pietrarizzo with its high elevation and Trimarchisa with 40-year-old vines—that express the beauty and distinct character of their exceptional sites.
Owner
Region
Sub-region
Farming
Harvest
Size
Grapes Grown
Website
Vineland Rep.
Tornatore Family
Sicily
Etna
Organic
Manual
60 hectares
Carricante,Minnella, Catarratto, Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio
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Tornatore Etna Bianco
The Etna Bianco is born from the skillful vinification of the white grape vines Carricante, cultivated in volcanic soils with a high vocation and arranged in terraces at an altitude of 650 meters above sea level, in the northern slope of the volcano. Straw yellow colored wine with light green shadow that offers mineral notes with menthol scents typical of high wines, green apple with primary aromas characteristic of the variety.
Denomination: Etna Bianco DOC
Variety: 100% Carricante
Production Zone: Etna, North slope in the town of Castiglione di Sicilia.
Farming System: Counter-espalier
Pruning System: Spur-cordon
Winemaking process: Grapes are manually harvested in small baskets and quickly brought to the winery where they undergo manual selection on a conveyor belt. After being destemmed and lightly pressed, they are transferred to a press for soft pressing. The juice obtained is clarified at low temperature and fermented at a temperature of 15/16°C. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is left on the fine lees for about three months.
Aging: 4-6 months in steel and cement tanks.
Notes: Pale straw yellow with intense green reflections; pleasant scents of green apple, grapefruit, white peach, and aromatic herbs on the nose; on the palate it shows its true identity with a very pleasant savoriness and freshness, complemented by an extraordinary minerality; unique notes that invite you to have another glass.
93
2020
WE
91
2021
WE
Tornatore Pietrarizzo Etna Bianco
The Pietrarizzo Contrada, since the last century, is considered by the natives of the area, one of the finest cru. The used vines are Carricante with a small percentage of Catarratto.
Denomination: Etna Bianco DOC
Variety: Carricante
Production Zone: Etna, North slope in the town of Castiglione di Sicilia
Contrada: Pietrarizzo
Farming System: Counter-espalier
Pruning System: Spur-cordon
Winemaking process: Grapes are manually harvested in small baskets and quickly brought to the winery where they undergo manual selection on a conveyor belt. After being destemmed and lightly pressed, they are transferred to a press for soft pressing. The juice obtained is clarified at low temperature and fermented at a temperature of 15/16°C in 50 hl oak barrels. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is left on the fine lees for about five months.
Aging: Approximately five months in wooden barrels and 3 months in bottle. Organoleptic
Notes: Intense straw yellow with subtle green reflections; pleasant scents of exotic fruit, particularly grapefruit and white peach, on the nose; on the palate it shows its true identity with a very pleasant savoriness and freshness, complemented by extraordinary complexity and a sweet taste.
96
2020
RV
93
2021
WE
Tornatore Zottorinotto Etna Bianco
The Zottorinotto contrada is situated in the Northen slopes of mount Etna. The grape variety used is one hundred percent Carricante.
Denomination: Etna Bianco DOC
Variety: Carricante
Production Zone: Etna, North slope in the town of Castiglione di Sicilia
Contrada: Zottorinotto
Farming System: Counter-espalier
Pruning System: Spur-cordon
Winemaking process: Grapes are manually harvested in small baskets and quickly brought to the winery where they undergo manual selection on a conveyor belt. After being destemmed and lightly pressed, they are transferred to a press for soft pressing. The juice obtained is fermented without temperature control, in 225-liter acacia barriques. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is left on the fine lees for about eight months.
Aging: Approximately eight months in acacia barrels and 6 months in bottle. Organoleptic
Notes: Straw yellow with intense golden reflections, pronounced scents of vanilla, honey, broom flowers, and ripe yellow peach. Elegance and persistence on the palate are complemented by extraordinary complexity and savoriness.
92
2019
WE
Tornatore Etna Rosso
Etna Rosso comes from the skillful vinification of the Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio autochthonous grapes of Etna. Vinified in steel barrels and aged in oak barrels, It is a wine with an intense and spicy aroma.
Denomination: Etna Rosso DOC
Varietals: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio
Production Zone: Etna, North slope in the town of Castiglione di Sicilia
Farming System: Counter-espalier
Pruning System: Spur-cordon
Winemaking process: Grapes are manually harvested in small baskets and quickly brought to the winery where they undergo manual selection on a conveyor belt. After being destemmed, but not fully pressed, they are transferred to cement tanks where they macerate for about 10-12 days at a temperature of 22-25°C. After fermentation is completed, the grapes remain in maceration for a few more days, then are pressed using a traditional vertical press.
Aging: Approximately 6 months in large wooden barrels and 3 months in bottle. Organoleptic.
Notes: Light ruby red with subtle violet reflections, typical of the variety which is not very rich in color. On the nose, there are evident scents of small red fruits, marasca cherry, and amarena. On the palate, it stands out for its typical balanced tannins and a surprising fullness, savoriness, and length.
93
2017
WE
93
2018
RF
Tornatore Pietrarizzo Etna Rosso
The Pietrarizzo Contrada, since the last century, is considered by the natives of this area, one of the finest cru. The grape variety used is Nerello Mascalese cultivated in terraces, vinified in cement tanks and aged in large wooden barrels.
Denomination: Etna Rosso DOC
Variety: Nerello Mascalese
Production Zone: Etna, North slope in the town of Castiglione di Sicilia
Contrada: Pietrarizzo
Farming System: Counter-espalier
Pruning System: Spur-cordon
Winemaking process: Grapes are manually harvested in small baskets and quickly brought to the winery where they undergo manual selection on a conveyor belt. After being destemmed, but not fully pressed, they are transferred to conical trunk-shaped wooden vats where they macerate for about 10-12 days at a temperature of 22-25°C. Manual punching down of the cap is carried out daily several times a day with the aid of a pneumatic punch-down machine. After fermentation is completed, the grapes remain in maceration for a few more days, then are pressed using a traditional vertical press. The wine is then aged for over a year in 25 hl oak barrels before being bottled.
Aging: Over a year in wooden barrels and cement tanks and about 3 months in bottle.
Notes: Light ruby red. Delicate and incredibly balanced on the nose, with evident scents of small red fruits, flowers, perfectly integrated with a minerality and evolution worthy of a great wine. On the palate, it has great structure but with a surprising drinkability and elegance.
95
2017
WE
94
2017
RV
Tornatore Trimarchisa Etna Rosso
The Trimarchisa Contrada is located in Verzella (in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia). It is a ridge of lava soil, with the presence of calcareous sediments, sloping down towards the Alcantara river. The vines used are Nerello Mascalese and a small part of Nerello Cappuccio. The vines have an average age of over 40 years.
Denomination: Etna Rosso DOC
Varietals: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio
Production Area: Etna, north slope in the town of Castiglione di Sicilia
Contrada: Trimarchisa
Farming System: Counter espalier
Pruning System: spur
Winemaking Method: The grapes, which are manually harvested in small baskets, quickly arrive in the winery where they undergo manual selection on a conveyor belt. They are then destemmed and not fully crushed and are sent to conical wooden vats, where they macerate for about 10/12 days at a temperature of 22/25°C. Daily, multiple times a day, manual pumpovers are performed on the grapes during maceration with the aid of a pneumatic punchdown tool. When fermentation is complete, the grapes remain in maceration for a few more days before being pressed with a traditional vertical press. The resulting wine then ages, in 25 hl barrels, 18 months before being bottled.
Aging: 18 months in wooden barrels and cement tanks and 6 months in the bottle. ORGANOLEPTIC
Notes: Ruby red with faint violet reflections. Rich and complex on the nose, it recalls small wild berries, black cherries and a delicate hint of sweet wood. On the palate it is decisive, complex and extraordinarily persistent.
95
2016
WE
93
2019
RV
Tornatore Etna Rosso Riserva
Our Riserva comes from the oldest company vineyards that we call relics. Small terraces supported by ancient walls, restored by us, host here and there vineyards with an extraordinary experience, which we take care of with care and respect. This wine represents for us the perfect synthesis of the magnetism of Etna where to do good it takes a lot of patience and a lot of time.
Varietals: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio
Production Area: Etna, north slope in the town of Castiglione di Sicilia.
Farming System: Counter espalier.
Pruning System: Cordone spur
Winemaking Method: Our reserve wine is produced from our oldest vineyards, which we call "relics". Small terraces supported by ancient walls, which we have restored, host here and there vines with extraordinary history, which we care for with care and respect. The grapes, a few clusters, two or three per plant, are fermented in wooden vats where they macerate for about two weeks. After pressing, the wine obtained is left to decant, until it becomes clear, in a cement tank before being transferred to 25 hl French oak barrels.
Aging: 3 years of aging in the same barrel, the wine is transferred to a cement tank for another six months before being bottled. At this point, we wait for another six months to evaluate its evolution. This product represents for us the perfect synthesis of the magnetism of Etna where to do well it takes a lot of patience and a lot of time.
Notes: Intense ruby red, typical mineral notes on the nose, with evident hints of red fruits, especially marasca cherry, caper, seaweed, and red mulberry. In the mouth it is crisp, fresh with a surprising savouriness, length, and fullness. It has good structure indicating a certain longevity. Alcoholic degree 14%
96
2014
WE
92
2017
RV