Mirella Buscemi
Located at 980 metres on the north-western slopes of Mount Etna, Contrada Tartaraci is a single, north-facing vineyard of just 1.5 hectares, planted with 80–90-year-old bush vines on pure black, mineral-rich volcanic soils. The estate was founded in 2016 by Mirella Buscemi, a chemist turned winemaker, who received this historic site—dating back to 1799—as a personal project rooted in heritage and precision.
The vineyard preserves its original varieties: Nerello Mascalese, the backbone of the reds, complemented by Grenache, historically introduced to soften and lift its profile. The whites are based on Carricante and Grecanico, bringing structure, freshness, and salinity. The extreme altitude, combined with strong diurnal temperature variation and late-season ripening, defines the wines’ tension, aromatic clarity, and balance.
Viticulture is meticulous and entirely manual, with careful parcel selection. Winemaking follows a low-intervention philosophy: fermentations with indigenous yeasts, reds vinified in concrete tanks to preserve purity and structure, whites fermented and aged in large oak tonneaux for texture and integration. Ageing is adapted to each cuvée, with an emphasis on transparency of site. Wines are bottled unfiltered.
Production remains very limited ensuring a focused and artisanal approach. The resulting wines are precise and mineral-driven, combining energy, depth, and finesse. Reds show tension, fine tannins, and layered notes of wild herbs, red fruits, and subtle spice, while the white is lifted and textural, with orchard fruit, floral tones, and a persistent saline finish.
The Wines
Sourced from the high-altitude Tartaraci vineyard (980 m) on the north-facing slopes of Mount Etna in Bronte, this blend of 70% Carricante and 30% Grecanico comes from 90-year-old vines rooted in pure black volcanic soils. Hand-harvested, fermented with indigenous yeasts in large oak tonneaux, and aged for 8 months with malolactic conversion, the wine shows both precision and depth.
The nose is refined and complex, combining ripe and lightly smoky nuances with floral tones, pollen and fresh almond. On the palate, it is vibrant and chiselled, with a striking purity and energy that reflect its altitude and volcanic terroir. The texture is structured and elegant, carrying through to a long, mineral driven finish with remarkable salinity and clarity.
White
From the Tartaraci vineyard on the north-facing slopes of Mount Etna in Bronte (980 m), this blend of 70% Nerello Mascalese and 30% Grenache is drawn from 90-year-old vines rooted in pure black, mineral-rich volcanic soils. Hand-harvested, destemmed, and fermented with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled concrete tanks, it is aged for 18 months in tank and bottled unfiltered, preserving a precise and unembellished expression of its high-altitude terroir.
The nose is superb—open and expressive, with ripe, smoky and mineral nuances layered over damson and wild herbs. Despite its generosity, it retains a clear sense of restraint, purity, and class.
On the palate, the wine is dense yet poised, combining a velvety texture with underlying tension. The tannic structure is superbly controlled, offering a firm, grippy backbone with finesse. Saline and vibrant, it carries through to a long, energetic finish marked by persistence and mineral clarity.
Made from 100% Nerello Mascalese sourced from several plots at Azienda Agricola Graci in Passopisciaro, on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, at elevations ranging from 650 to 800 metres. The wine is aged for 18 months in concrete, preserving its purity and sense of place. Delicate and refined, it reveals lifted aromatics, pronounced mineral notes, and a distinctive saline character. The palate is precise with finely tanins, with gentle grip, vibrant freshness, and excellent balance. Harmonious and elegant throughout, it is a classic expression of Etna, defined by purity, finesse, and remarkable drinkability.