Description
The Etna PDO is reserved for the following types of wine: White, White Superiore, Red, Rosé, White Spumante and Rosé Spumante.
Production Area
The production area of Etna PDO is within the territory of 20 municipalities in the Province of Catania, in the Sicily region.
Description of product typologies
Etna PDO Bianco is straw-yellow, at times with golden reflections; the fragrances are delicate and characteristic, bursting with pear, ripe apple and citrus fruit, with traces of sage; it is fresh, dry and harmonious on the palate, with a persistent grapefruity finish. Wines made from grapes produced in the delimited area within the municipality of Milo may display Superiore on the label. Etna PDO Bianco Superiore is vary pale straw-yellow with greenish reflections; it is delicate and characteristic on the nose; the flavour is dry, fresh, harmonious and smooth. Etna PDO Rosso is pale ruby red; the nose is dominated by fragrances of red fruit, floral hints of pansy and geranium and pronounced spicy notes, typical of the grape variety; the palate is embracing, with smooth and velvety tannins. It can display Riserva on the label if the wine has undergone a minimum ageing period of 2 years, at least 12 months of which must be in wood; the ageing period commences November 1st of the year in which the grapes were produced and must take place in the production area. Etna PDO Rosato is pink, varying in intensity and at times with orange reflections; it is intense and characteristic on the nose; the palate is dry, harmonious, fresh and light. Etna PDO Spumante Bianco is straw-yellow, varying in depth, with a fine and persistent perlage; the nose is characteristic, at times with citrusy notes accompanied by a delicate hint of yeast; it is full and harmonious on the palate, with good persistence in wines ranging from brut to extra dry. It is obtained through the white vinification of red grapes. Etna PDO Spumante Rosato is pink, varying in intensity and at times with orange reflections, with a fine and persistent perlage; it is characteristic and intense on the nose, at times with floral and spicy notes accompanied by a delicate hint of yeast; it is full and harmonious on the palate, with good persistence in wines ranging from brut to extra dry. It is obtained from the rosé vinification of red grapes, that is, the vinification of red and white grapes together, even if they have been mashed separately. Spumante wines must be obtained exclusively by natural secondary fermentation in the bottle and must remain on the lees for at least 18 months.
Geographical and sub-area specifications
The Etna PDO can be accompanied by additional geographical specifications referring to administrative units or districts from where the grapes originate, as well as to the broader geographical unit Sicily.
