wein.plus:special to the Italian wine region Etna DOC

With a large special, wein.plus reports on the exciting development of the Etna DOC wine region in Sicily. Marcus Hofschuster and Kim Schreiber have evaluated more than 150 wines, and the editors also provide detailed information on the development of the region, the terroir, the wine culture and lots of culinary insider tips.

The region is considered to be one of the most exciting and dynamic in Italy: In the Etna DOC, around 100 wineries have newly settled in the past 20 years, often with high standards. The special conditions of the soils, the microclimate, the altitude of the vineyards define the region - despite its geographical position - as a cool-climate growing area. All this makes it possible for the farms to produce wines with a distinctive character.

However, cultivation in the vineyards, some of which lie at an altitude of over 1,000 metres and are often planted with ancient, ungrafted vines, is laborious and only possible with manual labour. In addition, over 60 percent of the cultivated area is now farmed organically. "It is impossible to produce cheaply there. So the only solution is to produce first-class and unique wine. We are always surprised how well this has been achieved after such a short time," explains tasting manager Marcus Hofschuster. He and Kim Schreiber have evaluated over 150 Etna wines in the past weeks.

"The demand for white wines from Etna has increased massively"

In addition, the editorial team describes with several stories and an interview the terroir, the wine culture as well as the new perspective of the region, which is driven by many young winemakers and was previously only world-famous as a travel destination. In an interview with editor Raffaella Usai, winemaker and consortium president Francesco Cambria describes the development as follows: "Etna DOC has become known for its red wines. In recent years, however, mainly white grape varieties have been planted, primarily Carricante. The demand for white wines has increased massively. Among other things, they are appreciated for their longevity."

In addition, the special offers detailed information on the volcanic terroir, the wine culture of the region as well as lots of culinary insider tips - for example on the pistachios of Bronte, which are highly sought after among gourmets and grow on about 3,400 hectares there. It is rounded off with tips on restaurants with authentic cuisine and a good wine list, as well as information on hotels and places of interest.