Torre Mora is a boutique winery located on the Etna volcano, a black mountain looking at a blue shining sea, a unique place able to craft hidden wine gems.
The winery is owned by the historic Tuscan producer Tenute Piccini, one of the most popular brand of Chianti, Chianti Classico, and Brunello wines in Italy and the world.
As Eric Asimov pointed out in the New York Times: “Etna today is booming, a symbol of Sicily’s resurgence as an exciting wine region.”
Let’s explore and learn more about the Torre Mora wines on this unique volcanic terroir.
Etna Volcano Wines & Grapes
The Etna Volcano is Europe’s largest active volcano, in fact Etna is almost in a constant state of activity. The volcanic soil, the sea influence, the ungrafted vines and the alberello, Italian for “little tree”, vine training system create the perfect mix for characterful wines.
Vineyards on the Etna feature extremely fertile volcanic soils at an altitude of 650-700 meters above sea level (2100-2300 ft), with important temperature variations between day and night considerably influencing the quality of the grapes.
Mario Piccini, owner of the family estate on Etna, says: “We are inspired by this interdependent relation between a territory and its native grape varieties. We are passionate about making wines which tell, with every sip, the story of the local grape thriving on the slopes of this legendary volcano. We are glad to be part of the Etna wine renaissance.”
This is a perfect match in between the Etna Contrade, small subzones within the Etna wine region, and the two-flagships native grapes varieties:
- Nerello Mascalese for the reds (sometimes compared to Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir)
- Carricante for the whites.
Each contrada has its own microclimate and lava composition, even the color of the lava varies between different vineyards.
Climate
Mount Etna has its owns special micro-climate, much cooler than the rest of Sicily. The climate is characterized by very cold winters and hot summers. A significant temperature excursion between day and night, combined with the dry summer winds, allow the grapes to ripe slowly preserving complex flavors and aromas.
Organic Vineyards
As an organic grower, Torre Mora’s conversion to organic viticulture started in 2015. The focus is on keeping the vines healthy and strong, able to withstand pests and feed themselves naturally. The philosophy of Torre Mora is closely linked to sustainable viticulture, quality of the grapes, respect for the local culture and traditional methods.
The two vineyards of Torre Mora are located at about 650-700m in Contrada Rovittello, in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia and Contrada Torre, in the municipality of Linguaglossa.
The average age of vines sits at around 15 years old. Due to the steep soils on which the vineyards are situated, we are using spurred cordon on the small flat land areas and albarello, also known as bush vines, on the terraces.
Winemaking at Torre Mora
Nerello grapes are hand-picked in October, immediately after harvest the grapes are destemmed in steel vats for a 24h cold pre-fermentation maceration at 10°C (50°F) to increase the aromatic and color intensities of the must (grape juice).
Once the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations are done, the wine is aged in oak casks for an 18 to 24-month period.
Browse Below Wine Reviews of Torre Mora & Other Piccini Wines:
Torre Mora & Tenute Piccini on Social Media
Find out more about Piccini and their wines at Tenutepiccini.it
The information on this page was provided py Piccini wines exclusively for Social Vignerons.