On the eastern side of the volcano Etna, in the municipality of Milo, the area of the DOC Etna Bianco Superiore is the winery Maugeri.
The Maugeri family has 7 hectares of vineyards spread over 100 terraces, which are distributed between Contrada Praino and Contrada Volpare, at 700 meters above sea level. A 2.8 km authentic lava stone wall beautifully encircles the wine area. Renato Maugeri runs the Maugeri winery together with his daughters Carla, Paola and Michela. The family has historically deep roots in the area and in 2015 they returned to Milo to re-establish the family's wine production.
The family collaborates with the skilled winemaker and renowned oenologist Emiliano Falsini. Together, they have created a wine house with wonderful wines that express in the finest way the close relationship between the call of the land and their family values of environmental and social sustainability.
The re-establishment of the vineyards is very impressively done. Carefully planned and executed without compromise! Hundreds of posts from chestnut trees stand in neat rows on the many terraces. With a breathtaking view of both the Etna volcano, forest and sea, the vines thrive in the microclimate here. The cooling breeze from the Ionian Sea keeps the grapes healthy and fresh. Here are completely unique growing conditions and Contrada Volpare and Contrada Praino, with their lush volcanic soil, are the perfect terrior for the creation of the elegant wines.
The family has chosen to focus exclusively on white wines and rosé - a conscious choice based on their convictions; "To do something exponentially well - it requires full focus!"
Production is organic and all harvesting is done by hand, typically in October.
All grapes go through a cryomaceration process, after which they are pressed directly. It is a process where the grapes are exposed to low temperatures to extract aromas and colorings, without extracting too much tannin.
The grape juice is then clarified at a low temperature to remove impurities. The wine is then fermented in steel and oak. Distribution and duration vary in the five different wines that are produced.
The total production is now up to approx. 20,000 bottles, and the first vintage was 2020.
The wines from Maugeri are truly elegant. They have an exquisite minerality and freshness at the same time as a taste that is rich and insistent in the best possible way.
This is white wine at its best!
Monica Larner from ' Parker - Wine Advocate':
Maugeri is a very exciting new addition to the Etna wine scene, with an extremely relatable wine philosophy that zeroes in on white and rosé wines.
The concept is brilliant, and the wines are excellent. If you are not familiar with Maugeri, I enthusiastically recommend that you seek these bottles out."
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