Nuzzella Acchiana 2018

Nuzzella Acchiana 2018

Nuzzella
$25.00

Grape: Nerello Mascalese
Vintage: 2018
Type: Red

This volcanic red wine is a pure varietal expression of Nerello Mascalese grown on the northern slopes of Mount Etna. The name translates from local dialect as to climb, referencing the steep, high-altitude terraced vineyards where the old vines are rooted. Hand-harvested fruit undergoes a spontaneous native yeast fermentation inside temperature-controlled stainless steel vats to preserve structural freshness. The liquid matures in seasoned French oak barrels to allow the firm tannins to settle without wood flavor dominance.

It displays a translucent ruby hue with garnet highlights, opening with aromas of wild cherry, blood orange, and sweet woodsmoke. A medium-bodied frame pairs tart red fruit with a fine-grained, chalky tannin backbone. Savory notes of iron, black tea, and crushed basalt rock integrate across a texturally detailed mouthfeel. A vibrant wave of volcanic acidity runs through the center, keeping the fluid frame and balanced.

Nuzzella is a small Etna estate founded in the mid-2010s on the eastern side of the volcano, between Piedimonte Etneo and Linguaglossa. The project began with the restoration of old vineyards and olive groves on layered lava soils, locally associated with the hard volcanic terrains that give Etna wines their particular nerve. Native grapes such as Nerello Mascalese, Carricante and Catarratto are farmed organically and worked by hand, with attention to biodiversity and low-impact viticulture. The wines show the cooler, eastern face of Etna: smoky, fragrant, saline and shaped by a mountain that always feels alive.