Palmento Costanzo: the wine that safeguards Mount Etna
04
Jan 2026
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Yes, Mount Etna is, at its core, a land of contrasts. A contrast that is first and foremost physical and visual: the black of the lava sands set against the intense Mediterranean light, the fire of the volcano and the coolness of altitude, the severity of stone and the vitality of vegetation. Within just a few kilometres, one moves from the sea to a thousand metres above sea level and beyond, with marked temperature variations and landscapes that change radically.
It is a geological and agricultural contrast: young soils, in constant transformation, coexist with vines that are sometimes more than a century old; recent lava flows alternate with ancient terrains, creating an extreme fragmentation that makes each parcel unique and unrepeatable.
It is also an oenological contrast: wines of tension and depth, at once austere and luminous, capable of combining a structure that is often severe with surprising finesse. The volcano demands rigour, yet leaves room for expression, never tamed.
Finally, it is a cultural and human contrast: a demanding, challenging territory that offers no shortcuts, yet rewards those who know how to listen to it. On Etna, nothing is ever static, nothing is taken for granted. It is precisely in this continuous dialogue between opposites that its most authentic identity resides.
The palmento and the vineyards: memory becoming the present
On the slopes of Mount Etna, since 2010, a late-19th-century palmento has returned to the heart of a project that brings together memory and a contemporary vision. The lava-stone structure, once dedicated to grape crushing and must collection, has been carefully restored, preserving its original elements while integrating them with a modern, functional winery.
Palmento Costanzo is located in the Santo Spirito contrada and stands as an archive of superimposed lava flows: compact lava, dark sands, light fragments that crumble underfoot. With every step, one crosses a different era of the volcano. The more recent flows, such as that of 1879, still emerge intact; the older ones have turned into deep, fertile layers, forming a complex mosaic that tells the story of centuries of activity.
Geology enters into dialogue with vegetation, with air currents rising from the sea, with the temperature variations that mark the seasons. All around, alberello-trained vines, some pre-phylloxera, safeguard a rare agricultural heritage. Farming is organic, the work is manual, and every intervention is carefully calibrated to preserve biodiversity and identity.
In the cellar, gravity-flow vinification and the use of essential materials reflect a sober, coherent, and respectful philosophy. The wines convey the minerality of volcanic soils, the freshness of altitude, and the complexity of the contrade. Each label offers a different reading of the territory.
A convivium of effervescence, vintages, and contrade
Metodo Classico Brut The Metodo Classico Brut, made from Nerello Mascalese grapes, presents itself with elegance, marked by a fine, velvety effervescence. Its energy is luminous, threaded with citrus and floral notes that flow naturally, supported by a mineral-driven freshness that defines its character.
Metodo Classico Brut Magnum When the same wine takes shape in Magnum, this identity is not merely preserved, but expanded. The longer time spent on the lees grants it a different depth: candied lemon peel, fresh almond, and a broader, more enveloping structure. Volcanic minerality emerges with restraint, like a saline echo that extends the final sensation and invites another sip.
The Metodo Classico Palmento Costanzo is born precisely from this ambition: to lead Nerello Mascalese toward a higher, more essential expression, transforming it into a sparkling wine of great finesse that looks to the most authoritative models while never losing its volcanic soul.
Contrada Cavaliere 2021, Etna DOC Bianco, Magnum We continue with Contrada Cavaliere 2021, which carries with it the freshness of altitude. Notes of Mediterranean herbs, apple, and flint emerge. The wine moves with verticality and clarity, its elegance revealed through linearity and precision.
Contrada Santo Spirito 2017, Etna DOC Rosso, Magnum Contrada Santo Spirito 2017 introduces a deeper dimension. The tones broaden toward riper fruit and gentle spices, interwoven with a rich texture that reflects the complexity of the soils of the contrada. Everything unfolds in balance, with a layering that gradually opens, revealing new nuances.
Contrada Santo Spirito 2016, Etna DOC Rosso Bringing this convivial moment to a close is Contrada Santo Spirito 2016. Here, every element finds a natural harmony: delicate red fruit, officinal herbs, volcanic ash, a hint of balsamic notes. The structure accompanies with discretion, freshness provides support, minerality defines the profile. The result is a relaxed, fluid whole, in which each component finds its rightful place.
Among the rows of vines, every stone preserves the memory of the volcano, which continues to transform without ever erasing.
