Organic Scalunera Etna Rosato champions Nerello Mascalese

Produced by the Sicilian estate Torre Mora, which was acquired in 2016 by Tenute Piccini, the versatile Scalunera Etna Rosato is made with organic Nerello Mascalese grapes from the slopes of Mount Etna.

The term ‘Scalunera,’ meaning ‘staircase’ in Sicilian, refers to the terraced vineyards located on the steep slopes of Mount Etna. This picturesque landscape is marked by lava stone walls, which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ancient shapes of the mountain walls embellish the flanks of the volcano, resembling the steps of an ancient amphitheatre.

Produced by the Torra Mora estate in Sicily, Scalunera Etna Rosato DOC 2024 is an organic wine made from the region’s primary red grape varietal, Nerello Mascalese. The grapes are sourced from the Contrada Dafara Galluzzo vineyard in the Rovittello area of Castiglione di Sicilia, which is within the Etna DOC.

To make its flagship rosé, Torra Mora harvests the grapes by hand in mid-September, followed by a short maceration on the skins for a few hours. The process continues with soft pressing and fermentation at controlled temperatures for 16 days. The result is a pale salmon-hued rosé that offers aromas of small red fruits along with delicate hints of ripe peaches and passion fruit. Offered at 12.5% ABV, the producer describes the wine as having a fresh palate, backed by a solid structure that leads to a mineral and savoury finish.

Due to its fresh and savoury character, Scalunera Etna Rosato is a versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of dishes, including seafood appetisers like mussel sauté and tuna tartare. Additionally, it complements land dishes such as amatriciana and speck and radicchio risotto, or seafood cuisine, particularly with calamarata, fish soup, and fillet of tuna.

Part of the family

Torra Mora winery is part of a bigger wine family. Since 2016, it has been owned by Tenute Piccini, located in the heart of the Chianti Classico region in Tuscany.

For almost 150 years, Piccini has been utilising grapes grown by multiple estates across Italy. Since 2004, it has been led by CEO Mario Piccini, a fourth-generation member of the family. The company produces a diverse range of labels, including its signature orange-labelled DOCG wines and the Memoro range. Combining traditions with innovation, Piccini sums up its ethos in 15 words: “All we do in the present time is present in the past and also will be for the future.”

In September 2020, Piccini opened its new 18,000 m² production site and headquarters near Casole d’Elsa in Chianti. With an annual production of more than 16 million bottles, Piccini wines are distributed to more than 80 countries worldwide.

The dynamic winery comprises seven estates, five of which are organically cultivated. The estates are part of the winery’s parallel oenological project alongside the Piccini brand. In Tuscany, the company owns Fattoria di Valiano in Chianti Classico, Tenuta Moraia in Maremma, Villa al Cortile in Montalcino, and Geografico in Gaiole, Chianti, and San Gimignano. In recent years, Piccini has also acquired Regio Cantina, located in the heart of Aglianico del Vulture in Basilicata, and the ‘volcanic’ estate of Torre Mora on Mount Etna in Sicily – the home of Scalunera wines.

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