Etna Rosso – Contrada Monte Serra – Benanti – 2018

The Contrada Monte Serra wine from the Benanti winery

The Contrada Monte Serra wine from the Benanti winery is from 100% Nerello Mascalese grapes. It takes its name from its vineyard, located on the southeastern side of Etna, in the municipality of Viagrande at around 450 meters above sea level. Here there is the typical climate of high hills, humid and rather rainy in the colder season, with constant ventilation and high brightness. The vine also benefits from its proximity to the Ionian Sea.

The Benanti winery has chosen to grow only native vines, with a team of women and men from the area. For over thirty years, the winery has followed organic practices, using only indigenous yeasts selected by them in the vineyard to preserve the link between the wine and the territory of origin.

THE WINEMAKING

After the manual harvest which takes place between the end of September and the beginning of October, the selected grapes are taken to the cellar for winemaking. After a twenty-one day maceration, the must ferments in steel tanks at a controlled temperature with the use of only indigenous yeasts selected in the vineyard. The wine ages for approximately twelve months in French oak tonneaux and in steel for a period that varies depending on the winemaking years. After blending and bottling, the wine rests for at least ten months in the cellar before being placed on the market.

Tasting the wine of the winery

Pale ruby ​​red with garnet reflections; the aroma is intense with pleasant hints of red fruits that leave room for spicy puffs due to the aging in wood. Dry and aromatic on the palate with good acidity. The tannins are well present but silky and smooth. The correspondence between aromas and flavor is also excellent, and persistent.

FOOD PAIRINGS

The Contrada Monte Serra from the Benanti winery is a wine that goes well with red meats, game, and hard cheeses. Try it with venison fillet.