Our tour among volcanic wines, which has already stopped in the Campi Flegrei in Campania and the Soave area in Veneto, this time takes us to the slopes of one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mount Etna. The area – among the favourite destinations of American and British tourists – has captured the attention of enthusiasts and experts for several decades now – news has recently broken that Lamberto Frescobaldi and Marco De Grazia of Tenuta delle Terre Nere will be making wine together – thanks to exponential growth in quality and a dynamism that has driven the entire regional wine sector forward.
We have dedicated several features to this area, such as the one about young producers who want to expand the boundaries of the denomination, or those featuring brave winemakers who dare to follow their dreams – and often manage to realise them – like winemaker Stef Yim, who boasts a small but top-level production at an altitude of 1,500 metres.
Etna wines. characteristics and main grape varieties
Some young producers consider the denomination’s boundaries too restrictive. Year after year, this fascinating territory – shaped by terraces resting on soils formed by centuries of lava flows – continues to demonstrate the character and personality of its wines. A district long forgotten, its labels now shine with elegance, depth, complexity and identity: in short, full of those qualities that have made it a true legend on wine markets worldwide.
Etna's red and rosé wines are made from Nerello Mascalese (often blended with Nerello Cappuccio), a grape whose origins are unclear but which appears to have been grown in the area since ancient times. The name refers to the County of Mascali in the Province of Catania, a farming area wedged between the sea and the volcano, where this variety was once cultivated with great success.
On the white wine side, the main grape is undoubtedly Carricante (sometimes accompanied by Catarratto); once again, we are dealing with an ancient grape variety whose name seems to refer to its high productivity: it is unclear whether the plant becomes “loaded” with bunches or whether these are so plentiful that they fill the “carts”. It is mainly grown on the eastern side of the volcano, at altitudes often too high for Nerello Mascalese.
Of the 28 wines awarded Tre Bicchieri this year, nearly half come from Etna – memorable labels that confirm the wine vocation of this terroir. Reds take the lead, with 9 wines earning the top accolade (among them Munjebel Rosso MC by Frank Cornelissen), but the quality of the 3 award-winning whites is also impressive, one of which is produced by Maugeri, the 2025 Emerging Winery.
Finding Etna wines with the best quality-to-price ratio is not easy, partly due to the area’s growing prestige which has led to inevitable price increases, but also because winegrowing on the slopes of this smoking mountain is no easy task.
Etna wines with the best quality-to-price ratio
And yet, some excellent labels are available at friendly prices: here is our list of the best Etna wine tastings, available in wine shops and online stores for under 20 euros, reviewed in the Berebene and Vini d’Italia 2025 guides from Gambero Rosso.
Etna Rosso
Top marks go to the 2021 vintage of Lenza di Munti 720 slm from Cantine Nicosia – a textbook example of the Etna type and terroir: refined, profound, with gorgeous notes of mulberry, blackberry, and blackcurrant, interwoven with hints of slate, violet and dark spices. Assertive on the palate, it features a dense structure with soft, vibrant tannins.
This historic house, still run by the same family since 1898, is now guided with foresight by Carmelo Nicosia and his sons Francesco and Graziano. Their market success, driven by complex, deeply characterful wines, has encouraged further investments on Etna and in renowned areas like Noto and Vittoria, all under the banner of sustainability. A key contribution comes from Maria Carella, a skilled and sensitive oenologist.
The Etna Rosso Mofete 2021 from Palmento Costanzo delivers a compelling performance, taking top honours for its intense bouquet of peach, red rose and violet, with a refined mineral character and juicy, well-focused fruit.
The winery's name refers to a large historic palmento (press house) in Santo Spirito, restored by Mimmo and Valeria Costanzo, who preserved its original functional design, including the use of gravity to move grapes without mechanical intervention. All grapes are grown organically and sourced from prestigious crus in the north – Santo Spirito, Feudi di Mezzo, Zottorinoto, Bragaseggi – and from Cavaliere in the southwest.
The Etna Rosso 2021 by Francesco Tornatore made it to our finals. A dynamic entrepreneur, Tornatore has heavily invested in Etna’s northern slope, where he owns two wineries and over 70 hectares of vineyards. It’s a return to his roots, having begun his successful career in Castiglione di Sicilia, helping his father manage the family farm. It’s no surprise, then, that his top wine comes from Contrada Trimarchisa, surrounding his father’s old palmento.
Peter Wiegner, his wife Laura and son Marco operate in Passopisciaro, with six hectares of vineyards between Contrade Rampante and Marchesa. Their Etna Rosso Tre Terre 2022 shows beautiful expressiveness with its vivid, well-defined, smooth, and juicy fruit – nearly making it to the finals.
Etna Rosso 2022 by Cottanera reveals aromas of bramble fruits, nectarine, iron minerals and forest floor. On the palate, it’s savoury and ripe, with fine, elegant tannins and a pleasant spicy finish. Founded by Guglielmo and Enzo Cambria, Cottanera quickly became one of the key players in Etna’s wine renaissance. Initially experimenting with international grapes like Syrah, Merlot, and Mondeuse, they gradually shifted focus to native varieties and the unique expressions of each vineyard, especially in the area’s most prestigious contrade.
The Etna Rosso Carusu 2022 by Terrazze dell’Etna is elegant and well-crafted, with aromas of fresh red fruit, peach, plum, wildflowers, spices, and classic mineral and smoky notes. On the palate it’s fresh and savoury, with bright acidity enhancing the fruit’s liveliness, and a long finish.
This enchanting vineyard paradise was created thanks to engineer Nino Bevilacqua’s commitment to restoring the natural surroundings, rural terraces and old palmenti. The terrace amphitheatre embraces the Etna native grapes – Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, and Carricante – alongside international varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The estate is now passionately managed by his daughter Alessia.
Etna Bianco
The Etna Bianco Contrada Monte San Nicolò 2023 from Cantine Nicosia is a very fine wine, elegant and charming, with notes of citrus, star anise, peach and aromatic herbs.
The Etna Bianco Ante 2021 by I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna, with its bright straw colour, is marked by notes of peach and citrus. On the palate, it is elegant and vibrant.
This winery is the story of a love affair between a Roman, Mario Paoluzi, and Europe’s highest volcano. A love nurtured vineyard by vineyard, bush vine by bush vine, producing wines that reflect this passion. The pedoclimatic characteristics, altitudes ranging from 650 to 900 metres, and strong diurnal range give the wines a unique character. Everything here follows nature’s course, starting from the use of indigenous yeasts.
Etna Rosato
Despite a difficult vintage, the Etna Rosato De Aetna 2023 is very good, with clear aromas of flowers, red fruits, peach, and Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, it’s remarkably fresh and savoury, with precise fruit recall.
Fabio Costantino’s winery is one of the oldest on Etna, documented as early as 1699. Today it counts ten hectares of vineyards in Contrada Blandano and two in Contrada Praino, Milo. Environmentally conscious, Fabio was the first to obtain organic certification on Etna in 2000. To preserve biodiversity, the vineyards – where green manuring is practised – are surrounded by 20 different types of fruit trees, and most of the work, including harvest, is done by hand to reduce pollution.
Excellent value for money comes from the Etna Rosato 2023 by Graci, which displays the elegance and finesse characteristic of Alberto Aiello Graci’s wines. These labels narrate the volcanic terroir like no other, through wines from different contrade, where local cultivars respond uniquely depending on exposure, soil and vine age. This pursuit of diversity is echoed by the use of concrete vats and large truncated cone-shaped barrels. The unmistakable style of the house has made it a benchmark for critics and wine lovers alike.
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