Firriato Gaudensius Metodo Classico Blanc de Noir Brut

Born from the grafting of new vines in volcanic areas already well-established for winemaking, the Gaudensius Firriatio Blanc de Noirs is part of the Etna DOC wines. Recognition in this category dates back to 1968, the year in which Sicily began its journey towards markets broader than the local one. It is a sparkling wine vinified as a white produced using the classic method. The grapes it comes from are Nerello Mascalese grown on Paleolithic debris or lava flows, with constant soil turnover. Compared to other sparkling wines, Gaudensius Blanc de Noirs Firriato boasts north-facing vineyards, in pre-phylloxera areas located on the Tenuta Cavanera Etnea, in the province of Catania. Investigations on multiple levels have confirmed the arrival of the parasite after some existing vines were planted on the volcano, coinciding with the arrival of new botanical species from the Americas. Hence the “Pre-phylloxera Certification” of 2013, a further guarantee of this wine’s prestige. As with all magmatic soils, the vine roots grow deeper over time. Its composition, typical of lava soils, allows for a wine with mineral notes. It is produced entirely with Nerello Mascalese at a latitude that ensures many more hours of sunlight compared to vineyards located in other parts of Italy. The altitude of these sites, between 600 and 800 m, guarantees adequate ventilation. This allows for the grapes to be harvested strictly by hand towards the end of September and the sparkling winemaking process to begin in late October. The Firriato winery has chosen to carry out fermentation in steel silos after pressing. During this phase, managed at a controlled temperature, the sugars are transformed into alcohol. The next step involves aging in the bottle for at least 32 months. This gives the bouquet a complexity that distinguishes it from other sparkling wines.