1 Contrada Grasà – Castiglione di Sicilia, 2 Contrada Palmellata – Castiglione di Sicilia, 3 Contrada Sciaramanica – Linguaglossa , 4 Contrada Borriglione – Linguaglossa

IN THE TERRITORY OF ETNA DOC

Etna was the first Designation of Controlled Origin established in Sicily in 1968. Generazione Alessandro’s vineyards are all located within the Etna Doc production area.

The vineyards and the antique winery

The property extends for about ten hectares on the north-eastern side of the volcano. The vineyards are located on plots of land close to one another, however they all display different geomorphological and microclimatic characteristics, which profoundly influence the grape yield. The antique winery houses the wine cellar.

Contrada Palmellata

Palmellata’s vineyards spread out over approximately five hectares in the area of Castiglione di Sicilia, located on the border with the municipality of Linguaglossa. Acquired in 2015, the land was immediately planted with vines of Nerello Mascalese, Carricante and some Catarratto plants. The land, bordered to the west by woods and to the east by Monte Pomiciaro, is ideally divided into two different sections. The eastern part is characterized by a high percentage of red pumice stone, a greater exposure to the sun and a ventilation that make it ideal for the cultivation of red berried grapes. Conversely, the western part  has soil with deep volcanic sands and enjoys greater shading, which are ideal for growing white varieties.

  • Production area: municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia
  • Extension: 4.5 hectares, of which 2 planted with Nero Mascalese, 2.2 with Carricante and 0.3 with Catarratto
  • Altitude: 640 metres above sea level
  • Exposure: north-east
  • Training system: espalier with spurred cordon pruning
  • Soil: volcanic sands with high presence of red pumice stone
  • Year of planting: 2016
  • Planting density: 5,600 plants per hectare
  • Yield per hectare: 60 quintals
  • Harvest period: early October for Carricante and mid-October for Nerello Mascalese

Contrada Borriglione

Contrada Borriglione, in Linguaglossa, is located very close to an old quarry of pumice stone with an unusual red colour. Nestled among the young vineyards of Nerello Mascalese, which are planted on two hectares of terraced land, stands the antique Winery, thath houses the new vinification cellar.

  • Production area: municipality of Linguaglossa
  • Extension: 2 hectares of Nerello Mascalese
  • Altitude: 660 metres above sea level
  • Exposure: north-east
  • Training system: Eatnean “Alberello” (single sapling)
  • Soil: volcanic sands and ashes
  • Year of planting: 2020
  • Planting density: 6,000 plants per hectare
  • Yield per hectare: 60 quintals
  • Harvest period: mid-October

Contrada Sciaramanica

Sciaramanica’s vineyard is a small amphitheatre formed by terraces made with dry stone walls that host mature vines of different varieties.

  • Production area: municipality of Linguaglossa
  • Extension: 0.5 with Nerello Mascalese and small percentage of other varieties, mainly Nerello Cappuccio and Alicante
  • Altitude: 660 metres above sea level
  • Exposure: north-east
  • Training system: Eatnean “Alberello” (single sapling)
  • Soil: volcanic sands
  • Year of planting: around 1950
  • Planting density: 8,000 plants per hectare
  • Yield per hectare: 45 quintals
  • Harvest period: mid-October

Contrada Grasà

Located in the area of Castiglione di Sicilia, Grasà is a plot of land that spreads over about three hectares characterized by a core of deep volcanic sands surrounded by more exposed and ventilated terraces rich in skeleton.

  • Production area: municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia
  • Altitude: 650 metres above sea level
  • Exposure: north
  • Soil: volcanic sands with presence of skeleton