29 May Nicosia – A Southeast View and a Sparkling Welcome

After our visit to the organically focused Terra Costantino, our Etna adventure continued with a stop at Nicosia Winery, located on the southeastern slopes of the volcano. We were hosted by Graziano Nicosia, the fifth generation of a family that has been growing grapes here since 1898. Graziano carries on the work of his ancestors with a clear sense of pride and purpose, building on both tradition and innovation in one of Sicily’s most dynamic wine zones.

The winery is nestled inside Etna Park, a protected area rich with biodiversity and history. Though Nicosia began bottling wine in the 1950s, long before the official recognition of the Etna DOC in 1968, they mark the year 2000 as the real turning point, when a sharper focus on quality and terroir-driven expression took hold.

Graziano walked us through their key sites, each revealing a different facet of Etna’s personality. Monte Gorna, at 720 meters above sea level, is defined by its brown and grey volcanic sands and an amphitheater-like shape overlooking the sea, which creates unique microclimates. The San Nicolò vineyard, a little lower at 550 meters, is greener and warmer by a couple of degrees, with chalky soils that yield softer, more rounded wines.

Both vineyards are fully organic, with certification since 2016, and are part of a broader effort to protect the area’s natural beauty. Even the black lava stone terraces, used to sculpt the steep terrain into farmable plots, are UNESCO-protected, built centuries ago without mortar and still standing strong.

Wines That Speak of Place

Nicosia’s wines reflect the minerality, altitude, and complexity of the southeast slope, a region sometimes overshadowed by Etna’s more famous north side, but no less expressive.

• 2024 Monte San Nicolò Etna Bianco (95% Carricante, 5% Minella)
  Stainless steel fermentation preserves the floral and citrus notes of the Carricante and the Minella adds a slightly bitter finish to a wine with mouthwatering textured acidity.
• 2023 Monte Gorna Etna Bianco (90% Carricante, 10% Catarratto)
  Partial acacia aging adds body and texture. Notes of aromatic herbs, apple, ginger, and honey unfold over lees-driven complexity.
• 2019 Monte Gorna “Vecchie Viti” Etna Bianco (100% Carricante)
  Made from Carricante from old vines and aged 12 months in French oak and 12 months in bottle. Notes of chamomile, pear, honey, and volcanic minerality come together in a refined, layered white wine.

• 2022 Monte San Nicolò Etna Rosso (100% Nerello Mascalese)
  Oak aging yields a wine with red fruit and sweet spice, soft tannins, and juicy drinkability.
• 2021 Monte Gorna Etna Rosso (90% Nerello Mascalese, 10% Nerello Cappuccio)
  A textbook Etna red with red fruit, herbs, spice, a strong mineral core, well-balanced, and elegant.
• 2017 Monte Gorna “Vecchie Viti” Riserva Etna Rosso (100% Nerello Mascalese)
  Sourced from ancient alberello-trained vines and aged 24 months in French oak and another 12 in bottle, this wine is richly spiced with notes of licorice, ripe fruit, and floral lift. It is full-bodied with persistent freshness and a long finish.

Sosta Tre Santi: Etna’s Sparkling Side

Dinner at the winery’s restaurant gave us the perfect opportunity to explore Nicosia’s lesser-known strength: Metodo Classico sparkling wines under the Sosta Tre Santi label. The name Sosta Tre Santi, which means “a stopping place for three saints”, is a tribute to Trecastagni, the ancient Etna village where the winery stands, and to Saints Alfio, Cirino, and Filadelfo. Legend has it that the three paused in the town on their journey toward martyrdom, and the village continues to honor them to this day.

Under the Sosta Tre Santi label, Nicosia is elevating Etna’s native grapes into vibrant, expressive bubbles, each bottle a story of time, tradition, and place.

• 2018 Sosta Tre Santi Etna Bianco Brut (100% Nerello Mascalese, 36 months on lees)
  A blanc de noirs with fine bubbles, citrus zest, white pulp fruit, bread crust, and floral aromas. Linear and refreshingly dry.
• 2019 Sosta Tre Santi Etna Rosato Brut (100% Nerello Mascalese, 24 months on lees)
  A striking copper color with mineral depth, red berries, and a touch of honey. Elegant and layered.
• 2019 Sosta Tre Santi Etna Carricante Brut (100% Carricante, 36 months on lees)
  Floral and vibrant with a subtle yeasty richness, this wine is a graceful expression of Carricante’s freshness.

These sparkling wines were proof of how versatile and dynamic Etna’s native grapes can be, handling long lees aging with poise and volcanic precision.

An Etna Legacy, Alive and Evolving

At Nicosia, the past is never far from the present. From UNESCO-protected terraces to cutting-edge sparkling wines and site-specific expressions, this is a family committed to their mountain and its future.

In every glass, still or sparkling, you taste the minerality of volcanic soil, the freshness of sea breezes, and the steady hand of five generations who continue to shape one of Sicily’s most fascinating wine stories.