Benanti Etna DOC Contrada Cavaliere Rosso 2020
Notes
A lovely nose of crushed red cherries, fresh roses and crushed herbs. Medium-bodied with firm yet elegant tannins. Well balanced, with a pleasantly nuanced and subtle approach. Sour cherry and green strawberry. – James Suckling
“Benanti’s wine making history is synonimous with Etna wine making history. In fact, the hard work and excellent wines produced at this historic winery are what catapulted this unknown part of Sicily to the enological forefront. Benanti’s wines are among the best made on the volcano today.” - The Wine Advocate
“Today Benanti makes what might be Italy’s best white wine, the Etna Bianco Superiore Pietra Marina.” - The Wine Advocate
Benanti winery was founded in 1988 in Castiglione di Sicilia, on the northern slope of Mount Etna in Sicily, by Catania-born Giuseppe Benanti, whose grandfather was a grower in the late 1800’s.
At that time no high quality fine wine had yet been produced in the Etna region, Giuseppe decided to hire a young local consultant called Salvo Foti, and sought the support of prominent advisors from Piedmont. Through recognizing the diversity, uniqueness and historical suitabilities to specific grape varieties of the different slopes and subzones of Etna, the estate has been purchased vineyards located at the various sites.
After over 20 years of hard work, Benanti has gained countless international recognition such as “Italian Winery of the Year” by the Gambero Rosso/Slow Wine wine guide, “Top-100 Winery of the Year” by Wine & Spirtits magazine and was included in “Finest Italian Wines: 100 Great Producers” list by Wine Spectator for 3 years.
Since the end of 2012 the winery is run by Giuseppe’s twin sons Antonio and Salvino. Benanti’s aim is to produce highly “territorial”, elegant and balanced wines, with typical volcanic soul and distinct character, refined and ageworthy.