Here’s the lowdown on the Barone di Villagrande wine estate, for those planning a visit to Mount Etna in Sicily.
Barone di Villagrande is one of the oldest family-owned wine farms still operating in the Etna DOC. In fact, current owner Marco Nicolosi’s grandfather was instrumental in drafting the regulations that are now enshrined in the area’s Denominazione di Origine Controllata law, which was created in 1968. Barone Carlo Nicolosi Asmundo understood – better than most locals at the time – that Mount Etna possessed a unique combination of altitude, aspect, soils, climate and native grapes which, when respected and worked with, would create wines that reflect a singular identity and sense of place.
In particular, the earlier Barone (Baron) was a key figure in establishing the case for identifying the smaller sub-area around Milo on the eastern flank of Mount Etna as the prime location for producing Etna’s best white wine, from the native Carricante grape. Hence this sub-area’s designation as Etna Bianco Superiore DOC (as opposed to straight Etna Bianco DOC).
If you get to Villagrande, under no circumstances should you miss tasting – or better still, drinking – their Etna Bianco Superiore, especially the top-of-line Contrada Villagrande (although their ‘regular’ Etna Bianco Superiore is no slouch either!).
As it happens, Villagrande is also a wonderful place to base yourself when visiting Mount Etna. The setting is spectacular, overlooking the farm’s most prized vineyard and the coastal plain below. The estate offers four gorgeous rooms in the restored old villa on an agriturismo basis, that is, accommodation and food on a working farm. We stayed two nights and wished we’d stayed for longer.
The food, including dinner with prior reservations – served outside on a private terrace overlooking the view in nice weather, and inside an elegant dining room when it’s cooler or raining (which happens more often than you might expect) – was delicious and, when accompanied by one of Villagrande’s wines, evokes a strong sense of place. Honey from nearby Zafferana, pistachios from Bronte, ‘suino nero‘ pork salami from the Nebrodi Mountains, local lamb, seasonal cherries and loquats…you get the idea.
Contact Barone di Villagrande as follows to arrange a winery visit, wine tasting, dinner or stay. And tell them I sent you!
Az. Vin. Barone di Villagrande, Via del Bosco, 25, Milo – Catania
email: visite@villagrande.it