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We’re excited to announce that we are now the exclusive representatives of Azienda Agricola Biondi, a producer we’ve been eager to partner with for quite some time We will be welcoming Ciro Biondi himself to our Balzan outlet for what promises to be a great night. Join us to experience his five volcanic terroir wines.
THE WINES:
‘Outis’ Etna Bianco 2022
‘Pianta – Contrada Ronzini’ Etna Bianco 2021
‘Outis’ Etna Rosso 2022
‘Contrada San Nicolò’ Etna Rosso 2022
‘Cisterna Fuori – Contrada Ronzini’ Etna Rosso 2019
Our premium cheeses and charcuterie will accompany the wines.
Book your spot by clicking on the link under event details.
About Ciro Biondi:
The reputation of the wines of Mount Etna, the enormous active volcano that dominates the north-eastern corner of Sicily, has shot up in the last few years. It is now known as one of the best wine-producing areas in Italy; I think correctly.
Ciro Biondi’s family has owned vineyards in this area since at least 1800, and first sold bottled wine under their label a century ago; the modern iteration of the Biondi winery started in 1999. Ciro (an architect by training) and his wife Stef own three vineyards near the small town of Trecastagni and have reworked an old palmento in one of their vineyards as a winery. Barrel storage is in the little old cellar of the family house in the center of Trecastagni.
Once the overall reputation of an appellation is established, the next step (particularly for an area as large as Etna) is to find out how the parts of the appellation differ. Biondi’s cellar and three single vineyards are on the south-east slope of the volcano, in Trecastagni. Although the wines grown and produced on the north side of Etna are better known, it is not because the wines are necessarily better but the producers are more established and hailing from other regions. Historically, the south eastern zones were better know.
The northern slope of Etna produces wines that are more structured and darker, while the south side of Etna tends to produce wines that are more subtle, more Pinot-like, often paler in color. For this reason, Nerello Mascalese, the predominant variety in all Etna Rosso, is often blended with Nerello Capuccio, a darker variety. Both styles, from the North and South are excelent examples of high altitude, volcanic wines. Biondi’s wines are unquestionably in this top echelon, and they are improving every year.