Pietrardita
Pietrardita
Pietrardita
Pietrardita began in 2017, when by chance, Gandhy acquired an abandoned plot of land in Piedimonte Etneo, untouched for over 20 years. The vineyard was overgrown, with many of the ancient dry stone walls in disrepair, neglected by time and forgotten by previous owners. But Gandhy saw potential. His vision was to restore the vineyard in the traditional way—without shortcuts, without cement—honoring the terraces and the natural beauty shaped by generations before him. This project became Pietrardita, a name that symbolizes the volcanic rocks that once flowed as molten lava, now transformed into walls that protect and unite.
Shortly after, another opportunity arose to rescue a historic vineyard in Biancavilla, known as Contrada Purgatorio. Passed down through two generations, this vineyard was on the verge of being uprooted when Gandhy took on the responsibility of its preservation. With a deep respect for the land and its history, he embraced the challenge, creating wines that reflect the terroir and the centuries-old traditions of Mount Etna.
For Gandhy, winemaking is more than a craft—it’s a commitment to reviving the landscape, nurturing the vines, and protecting Etna’s rich heritage. Each bottle of Pietrardita tells the story of the land, the history, and the generations of hard work that make this region so unique.
The Biondi family has been rooted in the vineyards of Mount Etna since the
1600s, cultivating their land with a deep respect for tradition and the unique
terroir of the region. Although the Biondi winery was officially established in
the late 19th century, it reached its peak during the interwar period under the
guidance of Salvatore Biondi and his father, Cirino. Their dedication to winemaking earned them numerous accolades at prestigious wine and trade fairs across Europe.
However, the premature death of Salvatore and the challenges of modernizing after World War II led to a period of decline for the winery. It wasn’t until 1999 that Ciro Biondi and his wife Stephanie took the reins, revitalizing the family’s 6 hectares of vineyards and reintroducing the world to the extraordinary potential of Mount Etna’s volcanic terroir.
The Biondi vineyards are composed of three distinct terraced sites, each planted with traditional Albarello vines. Located on the southeastern slopes of Mount Etna in the comune of Trecastagni, these vineyards benefit from the region’s unique microclimate, mineral-rich volcanic soils, and significant diurnal temperature shifts. The diversity of the terroir is reflected in their wines, which are crafted from indigenous grape varieties such as Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, Catarrato, and Minella.
Ciro and Stephanie’s winemaking philosophy is rooted in a commitment to preserving the historical and natural elements of their land while producing high-quality wines that express the distinct character of each vineyard. The result is a collection of wines that not only honor their heritage but also showcase the singular beauty of Etna’s volcanic slopes.
Biondi
Category Two
Filari Della Rocca
Filari Della Rocca
Filari Della Rocca
15 hectares of fertile land that extend over one of the most fascinating territories of Sicily. Between the two natural reserves and the archaeological sites of Adranone and Calatamauro, on the slopes of Rocca di Entella, stands the agricultural estate of the Benanti family. More than forty years of history and hard work now in its third generation.
Thus the Filari Della Rocca were born. The union of the tradition of a high quality biological production with a strong focus on innovation processes, respect for consumers, and the genuineness of the products.
The production process remains largely manual, in compliance with the legislation on biological production. For this reason the Oil and the Wines Filari Della Rocca, still maintain the characteristics of fragrance, genuineness and flavor that have made our land famous all over the world.
Stanza Terrena
Giuseppe ‘Mezzaluna¹’ Grasso left a budding career in chess boxing to become a producer of soulful Etna wines. This dichotomy of chess boxing is also his approach at Santo Spirito: to harness Etna’s raw power by neither simplistic traps or tricks, but rather by his own careful tactics and strategies. As we talked in his cellar recently, he confessed his desire “to bottle the soul of Santo Spirito…that convergence of wind and sun and black volcanic soil that encircles our family’s centenarian and bi-centenarian [200 years old] vines.” If you haven’t figured it out already, Giuseppe really enjoys cellar work as much as the vineyard.
The Grasso family began making wine five generations ago in the late 1800’s. After enology degree and various experiences with foreign producers, Giuseppe started his new project Stanza Terrena, literally ‘Earthly Room,’ which signifies the cellar where, Giuseppe underlines, “Etna’s raw material is bottled.” His first bottling was the 2019 vintage from a total of five hectares. He was right away encouraged by his long-time friend and Etna producer Massimiliano Calabretta to accomplish his poetical goals, without capitulating to mediocrity or overtly stylish wines. He respected the family’s tradition of making wines; yet, he just became more thoughtful about making wines that required more observing, expimenting, and tasting. He’s also keeping his crazy edge about him!
