Interlude Vip

Contact us

    Interlude Magazine

    Flavours and Traditions | Interlude Magazine

    FEBRUARY
    2026

     

    Nerello Mascalese - The wine born of fire

    Some wines tell the story of a place. And then some wines are the place. 
    Nerello Mascalese belongs to the latter. It is the wine of Mount Etna, and above all, the expression of a fragile and extraordinary balance between fire, wind, altitude, and time. A grape variety that does not seek uniformity, but lives through nuances, contrasts and subtle differences that change from one contrada to another. 

    One grape, a thousand Etnas
    Nerello Mascalese grows on the slopes of Europe's highest active volcano, often at elevations above 600 mt. Here, the climate is extreme: cold winters, bright summers, and marked temperature fluctuations between day and night. The vines sink their roots into young and ancient lava soils, rich in minerals yet poor in organic matter, forced to drain and to endure. 
    It is precisely this struggle that makes Nerello Mascalese so distinctive. Its small and loosely packed clusters ripen slowly, building complexity while never losing their elegance. 

    Volcanic Elegance
    In the glass, Nerello Mascalese surprises those who expect power. Its colour is often pale, almost translucent, yet the aromatic profile is deep: red berries, floral notes, subtle hints of spice, and a mineral thread that recalls wet stone, ash and iron. 
    On the palate, it is taut and vibrant, with fine tannins and a lively acidity that carries the sip without weighing it down. 
    It is a wine that does not shout, but lingers. It does not win you over with force, but with precision. 

    Time as an ingredient
    Nerello Mascalese is also a wine that embraces time. Both in the vineyard and in the cellar, it demands patience. 
    The vines are often trained in the traditional laberello system, tended by hand and cared for across generations. Yields are low, harvests come late, and winemaking practices are deliberately respectful. 
    Many producers choose long ageing periods in large oak casks or in amphorae, allowing the wine to find its own balance without force. The result is a red capable of evolving over the years, revealing ever-new nuances. 

    A wine for the Sicilian table
    Nerello Mascalese is deeply connected to the cuisine of its land. It pairs naturally with dishes that tell the story of Etna, roasted meats, wild mushrooms, aged cheeses, as well as with more careful preparations, where its freshness enhances flavours without overpowering them. 
    It is a wine that loves slow conviviality, shared tables, and meals that have no hurry to end. 

    More than a wine, a story
    Drinking Nerello Mascalese means tasting a place in constant transformation. It means accepting that every village is different, that every contrada has its own voice, and that the wine is never the same itself.
    It is the wine of those who seek authenticity, not perfection. Of those who love details, differences, and stories that reveal themselves over time. 
    Like Mount Etna, Nerello Mascalese cannot be tamed. It allows itself to be discovered slowly. Here, every flavour has a root. And every root holds a soul that burns.

    Browse the Magazine

    Image
    Image

    More from the Magazine

    Main Menu (EN)