Terre Nere : Calderara Sottana 2019

Tasting Notes and Serving Suggestions for the Calderara Sottana 2019 from Terre Nere

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a pale ruby hue with mahogany highlights.

Nose

The nose unveils a penetrating bouquet of ripe red and black fruits, notably cherries and blackberries, accompanied by floral notes of violet. Spicy nuances, cocoa notes, and a distinctive volcanic minerality round out this complex aromatic expression.

Palate

On the palate, this wine offers a perfect union of power and elegance. The attack reveals complex layers of juicy red fruit, supported by bright acidity with hints of blood orange and citrus. The medium-bodied structure features silky, creamy tannins, while retaining a chalky minerality that recalls the volcanic origins of the terroir. The finish lingers at length with persistent notes of bitter orange and plum.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Etna red wine pairs ideally with fine poultry and white meats. It matches perfectly with milk-fed pork lonzo, rabbit braised in white wine, or herb-roasted lamb with Mediterranean herbs. Aged cheeses, charcuterie, and spicy dishes also make excellent pairings. Its balanced structure allows it to pair just as well with tomato pizza as with game dishes or a grilled steak.

Serving and Cellaring

The Calderara Sottana 2019 can be enjoyed now while also offering excellent aging potential.

An Etna Red Wine Combining Power and Refinement

The estate

Founded in 2002 by Marco de Grazia, Tenuta delle Terre Nere embodies the modern revival of winemaking on Mount Etna. Established on the northern slopes of the Sicilian volcano, the estate spans around 45 hectares across 30 distinct parcels in nine different contradas, between 600 and 1,000 meters in altitude. Marco de Grazia, now 72 years old, continues to lead the estate with a visionary philosophy that has transformed the understanding of Etna’s volcanic terroirs. A pioneer of single-parcel classification modeled after Burgundy, he has established Terre Nere as an essential benchmark for the region. Certified organic since the first vintage. In 2025, the Frescobaldi family acquired a minority stake, while preserving operational independence and Marco de Grazia’s vision.

The vineyard

The Calderara Sottana 2019 comes from the contrada Calderara Sottana, located in Randazzo on the northern slopes of Etna, between 600 and 650 meters in altitude. This area, historically recognized for producing the finest red wines of the appellation, benefits from exceptionally stony, shallow volcanic soils composed of volcanic ash, black pumice stone, and fragments of basalt rock. These soils drain perfectly while stressing the vines, thereby concentrating aromas and structure in the grapes. The parcels are home to 50- to 100-year-old vines, cultivated according to organic farming principles. The name Calderara evokes the warmth that the black volcanic stones absorb during the day and release at night, influencing grape ripening.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage proved particularly favorable on Etna’s northern slopes, producing Sicilian wines that demonstrate both grace and power. The climatic conditions made it possible to obtain grapes with excellent balance, capable of aging remarkably well while offering immediate pleasure. Harvest took place during the first ten days of October, the optimal period for Nerello Mascalese to reach ripeness in this high-altitude area.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Calderara Sottana 2019 are harvested by hand and vinified parcel by parcel. Alcoholic fermentation takes place at controlled temperature, followed by spontaneous malolactic fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aging lasts 16 to 18 months in French oak barrels, tonneaux, and large oak casks, with around 20% new oak. A final one-month refining period in stainless-steel tanks precedes bottling, carried out without filtration or fining in order to preserve the full expression of the volcanic terroir.

Grape varieties

Nerello Mascalese complemented by Nerello Cappuccio, the traditional blend of Etna’s northern slopes.