Welcome to the pretty end of Italian rosé. This Sicilian rosé has a lovely floral, pink, musky aromatic flourish, with a palate that feels both juicy, tart, and fresh, with a real carefree vibe. Blood orange, pink grapefruit, and just-ripe raspberries are what you'll taste here, with a great balance between energy and fruit intensity.

The history of Villagrande, the winegrowing area, is really the history of the Nicolosi Asmundo family, who have been working their land on the slopes of Sicily's Mount Etna since the early 18th century. It all started when the Bishop of Catania challenged them to turn a wild, untamed patch of Mount Etna into a 'flourishing garden'. They did such a brilliant job that Emperor Charles VI even made Don Carmelo Nicolosi the Baron of Villagrande in 1727. Then, in 1869, when Italy was just eight years old, Paolo Nicolosi built a cellar and took the rudimentary winemaking of that era into something much more modern (including separating red and white grapes). That forward-thinking approach eventually led to the family helping write the official Etna DOC (the official Mount Etna wine region) rules in 1968. The vineyards here feel wild, perched 700m asl on the eastern slope of the volcano, looking out over the Ionian Sea. The weather here is strictly "Etnean" rather than typical Sicilian, meaning it gets bucketloads of rain in winter and can even drop below freezing. However, the massive 30°C temperature swings between day and night are actually a blessing for the grapes. Because of this unique mountain climate and the iron-rich volcanic soil, the wines end up with a bit less alcohol than you might expect from Sicily, but with this unique balance between flavour and delicacy.