Passopisciaro Contrada 'r'

• Varietals: 100% Nerello Mascalese

• Vineyards: Rampante is the highest cru at Passopisciaro, sitting at 1,000 m (3,330 ft) above sea level. At the highest confines of viticulture on the northern side of Etna, Rampante is ancient contrada, producing one of volcano’s finest, most aromatic wines because of the sandy character that the lava has acquired. Due to the altitude, it is typically the last contrada to ripen.

• Soils: Volcanic

• Winemaking: The wines undergo fermentation in steel vats, followed by malolactic and 18 months aging in large neutral oak barrels; this minimal intervention approach to winemaking allows the differences in terroir to shine.