2024 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Bianco

The Etna Bianco is the quiet achiever in the Terre Nere range – a pure expression of Carricante from high-altitude vineyards on the mountain’s north face. The vines grow in black volcanic ash and pumice at around 700–900 metres above sea level, where cool nights and long, slow ripening give the wine its hallmark freshness and mineral drive.

The 2024 vintage was cool and steady, a classic Etna season that favoured balance over power. The fruit was hand-picked, gently pressed and fermented in stainless steel to keep it bright and focused. A short time on lees adds texture without clouding the detail.

The result is clean and crystalline. Lemon, green apple and wild herbs sit over a savoury, smoky undercurrent that could only come from this mountain. The palate is taut and saline, with a long, mouth-watering finish that makes it hard not to reach straight for another glass.