GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Producer: Filippo Grasso

Country: Italy
Region: Sicily
Founded: 2002
Farming: Organic
Annual Production: 40,000 bottles

Website: https://www.filippograsso.it

 

Filippo Grasso is a small family owned winery on the north side of Mount Etna in Sicily. The current generation is the 4th generation of winemakers and they have been bottling their own wine since 2006. They are located on the Contrada Calderada, which features soils of large, black volcanic rocks that absorb the heat of the sun during the day and retain this warmth at night, protecting the vines from cool mountain nights.

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Filippo Grasso has six hectares planted to indigenous Etna grapes, such as Carricante, Catarratto, Minella, Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Mantellato (aka Cappuccio). Their commitment to the grapes of the region is an obvious one for the winery, as the goal is to simply translate the terrior of Etna into the bottle. The wines are unoaked, reflecting the purity of the native grapes. 

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FIlippo Grasso received his enology degree in Alba, Piedmont and the wines reflect his precise style of winemaking. In addition to the vineyards, they grow and produce olive oil from 100 century-old, olive trees on the property and also have a variety of fruit and nut trees, indigenous herbs and wild vegetables, all of which promote biodiversity, creating a healthy and balanced ecosystem for the vines.

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Though the winery doesn't have organic certification, they work everyday with respect for nature and the earth. As they continue to grow and master their winemaking art, the Grasso family looks forward to sharing the wines of their little part of Etna with a wider audience.