Federico Graziani

Federico Graziani was named Best Sommelier of Italy in 1998 and later took a degree in viticulture and oenology. In 2008 a chance conversation in a bar in Passopisciaro led him to a century-old vineyard in Contrada Feudo di Mezzo, on Etna’s northern slope, that was slated to be uprooted. He bought it; its fruit became his first wine, Profumo di Vulcano, from the 2010 vintage.

He now farms around six hectares on Etna’s north and northwest sides, between 600 and 1,200 metres, working with Salvo Foti and Maurizio Pagano of I Vigneri. The vines are trained in the traditional alberello and see no pesticides or systemic treatments — only copper and sulphur.

Profumo di Vulcano is a field blend from that century-old vineyard: 70% Nerello Mascalese, 15% Nerello Cappuccio and 15% Alicante and Francisi, with a few dozen white vines interplanted. Rosso di Mezzo, from the Cubito plot in the same contrada, is 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio. Mareneve is a white grown at 1,200 metres, where Carricante shares the ground with Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chenin Blanc and Grecanico. An Etna Rosso completes the range, with an Etna Chinato the estate records as the first made on Etna, 2,000 half-bottles.

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