2015 · Tempesta

Santa Maria La Nave is a small, artisanal Etna producer based in Catania, founded on a family viticultural history dating to 1954. The winery works exclusively with native Sicilian varieties, preserving ancient, pre-phylloxera and nearly extinct vines through massal selection. Its vineyards include Casa Decima at 1,100 metres on Etna’s north-western slope and an ancient Monte Ilice site at about 800 metres, with volcanic soils, steep terrain and traditional alberello-trained vines. Farming is manual, organic or biodynamic depending on the site, with minimal intervention and respect for biodiversity. Native growers and specialists care for the vineyards, while winemaking uses delicate handling and native yeasts to express grape, vintage and volcanic terroir. The project includes rare varieties such as Grecanico Dorato, Albanello and numerous other indigenous Etnean grapes, with very limited, numbered production.