A blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio (aka the classic red grapes grown on the side of Mt Etna) and matured in terra cotta amphorae, this gloriously earthen, slightly rustic and yet vital red wine feels very real and soulful. With no oak to get in the way, there's this stony, red cherry energy here that is quite remarkable.

I Vigneri is not so much a winery as an association of grapegrowers and winemakers, all led by the irrepressible force that is Salvo Foti. Variously described as 'the godfather of Etna wine', Foti is a lecturer on Sicilian wine and its history, with a swag of research papers and publications that dive into just why the wines of Mt Etna are so magical. With the I Vigneri project, Foti, his sons, and the crew of grapegrowers and vignerons embrace the ancient methods of Sicilian wine production. That includes only using vines grown in the classic 'alborello' trellising system (there's a picture of it on the label) with wines made using a 'palmento' (an ancient stone building used to crush grapes and make wine before modern presses and pumps) and amphorae instead of oak barrels. The results? Fascinating Sicilian wines of earth, heart and intrigue that taste a world away from the manicured expressions of wine we see in a modern era.