Name: Tenuta Monte Ilice - Etna Rosso - 2018
Brand: Dionis
Price: 29.9 EUR
Availability: InStock

Let's talk little, let's talk wine

The Monte Ilice estate is located in Sicily , on the southern slope of the Etna Park, at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level, on the steep slopes of Mount Ilice, an extinct crater where viticulture has always been practiced with dedication giving a place of poetic beauty. The vineyard, made up of 5 hectares that had been completely abandoned for years, was recovered by saving a large part of the original vines and replanting local grape varieties. The significant slopes (40%) make any mechanization impossible. The Mediterranean climate, with a wide temperature range between day and night, allows optimal ripening of the grapes. The harvest is done exclusively by hand. Fermentation and aging take place in stainless steel vats for at least 12 months . The wine then rests for an additional 12 months in the bottle. This wine reveals notes of redcurrants , wild strawberries , rosemary , raspberry , licorice , red flowers , cloves , black rocks and pomegranate . The palate is full of finesse, consistent and with supple tannins. The finish is fresh and mineral.

Where are we traveling?

Sicily Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, has had a vocation for viticulture for centuries. Planted on black and volcanic soils, its vineyard is considered one of the oldest in the world. It is the largest vineyard in Italy. The vine is present everywhere, reaching up to 1200 meters of altitude on Etna. The Mediterranean climate is very favorable to it: regular sunshine, high temperatures and low rainfall. Its hilly landscapes and light sea breeze are reminiscent of places in California and Australia. Sicily offers a multitude of indigenous grape varieties, with Nero d'Avola being the most famous. The sub-region: Etna The vines are on the eastern slope of Mount Etna, the 3,330 meter active volcano that dominates the northeast corner of Sicily. They are located 700 meters above sea level. Here the climate is far from Sicilian (hot and dry), the climate of Etna is cool with more rain. Temperatures and precipitation are influenced by volcanic activity and altitude. From almost anywhere on the slopes of Etna, looking east, one can see how the sparkling light of the Mediterranean reflects off the vineyards. This effect is similar to those reported around Lake Geneva and along the Moselle. Winemakers explain that this allows for more complete ripening of the grapes, even at higher and cooler altitudes.

The little history of the country

Italy

Ah Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, people of the Dolce Vita, but what difficulty in understanding its wine organization! The key to understanding the naming system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous country because each region has its own naming system. Italy can, however, give wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, as well as bottles filled with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless and characterless wines which are sold under their most useful and commercially reputable name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others... But let's talk a little history, viticulture in Italy dates back to ancient times and it originated in Greece. The Etruscans would have planted vines and Greek immigrants would have improved and modified the grape varieties who subsequently called this country "Oenotria": the country of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life and certain regions already stood out for the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible testimony to their invasion. Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic areas. The northern mountains experience a fairly harsh mountain climate. The “middle of the boot” plain is the domain of the continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the "southern part of the Italian boot" the Mediterranean climate reigns with very hot and very dry summers without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In summary, Italy produces wines of great variety thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originate from their lands. It is a country just as complex as its wines which deserve to be explored!