Due Terre Nerello Mascalese (Organic) 

Winery notes:  “Due Terre Wines is a collaborative effort between friends and we are happy to present our first line of wines made from the indigenous grapes of Italy – delicious, economical, well packaged, and certified organic. All the wines are produced as 100% pure varietals with minimal intervention and winemaking in order to allow the characteristics of the grape to shine through. There could not have been a better place than Sicily to produce these first wines for our project – the island has the largest number of organic vineyards in Italy and produces more grapes of quality than have a home in IGT and DOC bottlings and is often sold off as bulk wine to the north. We cannot bear to think of these delicious native grapes disappearing into another anonymous bottle and are very happy to give them a home at Due Terre Wines.”

Nerello Mascalese is an indigenous grape from the island of Sicily that has gained recent fame for the wines it produces on Mount Etna. The grape is naturally high in tannins and light in color, though when grown on lower sandy soils like those we find on the opposite side of the island from Etna in the Southwest, it can be more approachable when young.

Grapes were harvested in mid-September, a short four-day maceration at low temperature to keep the tannins light, fermentation at 65° F/18° C for 12 days with native yeasts, and then simply aged for 15 months in concrete tanks.

An excellent alternative where you might use any medium-bodied, earthy Italian red. Grilled meats, sausages, tomato-based sauces, etc.  An Italian wine for Pinot Noir lovers.