Pietradolce Winery

[piay-trah-DOL-shay]

Location: Solicchiata, Castiglione di Sicilia, Province of Catania, Sicily, Italy.

Pietradolce was established in 2005 on the Northern slopes of Mount Etna. The vineyards are composed of stony, light, sandy loam, with abundant mineral elements. The soil is the result of the numerous eruptions by Mount Etna throughout the centuries, which gives the wines special characteristics and makes them completely unique.

Points of Differentiation

• A benchmark estate in Etna wine
• 100% estate-owned and estate-bottled
• 100% native varietals
• A hot, dry climate produces grapes with excellent aromatics
• Traditional bush-trained vines reduce the need for irrigation
• The volcanic soil produces vibrant minerality

The History

Pietradolce was established in 2005 by Michele Faro and was founded in Solicchiata, an area within the district of the town of Castiglione di Sicilia, on the Northern slopes of Etna.

There are a little over 27 acres of vineyards that grow at a height of between 2,000 and 3,000 feet above sea level and are divided into three sections, two of which fall within the territory of Rampante and the other which falls in the territory of Zottorinoto.

The Pietradolce philosophy, in the words of Michele Faro, owner of Pietradolce, “At the heart of our philosophy is a love for our land which is equaled by the respect with which we treat it. We look to the rich local traditions for all that is best in them and then combine these with a wise use of modern viticultural techniques to give life to our passion: the wines of Etna.”

Pietradolce’s passion for the wines of Etna extends to the grapes they grow. The winery deliberately chooses to only grow grapes that are native to Mount Etna. The key varietals grown are Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, and Carricante.

In addition, Pietradolce’s team trains the vines to grow as traditional bushes. This training method is developed locally to grow vines close to the ground, helping to prevent evaporation during the hot summer months.

The Terroir

The vineyards are composed of stony, light, sandy loam, with abundant mineral elements. The soil is the result of the numerous eruptions by Mount Etna throughout the centuries, which gives the wines special characteristics and makes them completely unique. Mount Etna enjoys a unique micro-climate that is cooler than other areas in Sicily.

The temperatures in winter can be close to the freezing point and in the summer, the heat is never excessive. There can also be a large swing between daytime and nighttime temperatures, sometimes up to 20°F. This difference in temperature means extraordinary fragrance and finesse in the wines.