Russo Girolamo

When talking about Etna, one of the most vocated and unique viticultural areas in the world, the name of Girolamo Russo cannot go unmentioned. Indeed, that of Giuseppe Russo, Girolamo's son, is an iconic winery capable of faithfully interpreting the Etnean terroir in all its facets. The winery, located in Passopisciaro, a portion of Castiglione di Sicilia, was refounded in 2005 by Giuseppe, who decided to devote himself to viticulture by paying homage to his recently deceased father, moved by the same love and passion that his family has reserved for centuries for the Etna terroir.

The Girolamo Russo estate includes 20 hectares of vineyards, some of them centuries old, consisting of vines located between 650 and 780 meters above sea level, surrounded by broom, hazelnut and olive groves. The vines are rooted on the characteristic soil formed by black sands originating from the so-called "sciara," an Arab-derived term for lava that cools and solidifies along the path of the flow. On these volcanic soils Giuseppe Russo raises two grape varieties-symbols of Etna enology, namely Nerello Mascalese and Carricante, associated with other local and non-local varieties such as Nerello Cappuccio, Catarratto, Grecanico, Inzolia, Minnella and Coda di Volpe. Agronomic management is based on the principles of certified organic farming, and all operations, such as pruning, plowing, hoeing and tying, are carried out manually as was the custom in the past. Harvesting is also done by hand, accompanied by careful sorting of the bunches of grapes, which are then vinified separately, respecting the district of origin. Fermentations are entrusted only to indigenous yeasts, and the subsequent aging phase takes place mostly in oak barrels of different capacities and multiple passages.

The production of Girolamo Russo winery encompasses expressions of authentic and elegant character, at the qualitative summit of the Etnean district. In fact, the labels include some of the noblest and most vocated districts of all Etna, such as 'Feudo di Mezzo', 'San Lorenzo', in both white and red versions, and 'Calderara Sottana', which give life to an excellent oenological selection.