Benanti

Giuseppe Benanti founded the modern Etna DOC movement in 1988 when he restored ancient alberello vineyards on the volcano's north slope. The Benanti Serra della Contessa — from contrada (sub-district) vineyards at 800m — was the first Etna Rosso to attract international attention. The estate's research into Etna's distinct contrade (sub-districts equivalent to Burgundian lieux-dits) established the vocabulary of Etna terroir.

Benanti is the founding estate of the modern Etna DOC movement — the first producer to demonstrate to the world that Nerello Mascalese from volcanic basalt could produce wines of international class. The Serra della Contessa is consistently one of Italy's most discussed emerging wines.