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There are changes underfoot in the Etna DOC and for once, they do not involve the rumbling mountain. Rather, a few updates to the Disciplinare di Produzione for the Etna DOC have been announced (and published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana on February 3, 2022).
These updates do not impact the current regulations for the bianco/white wines of the region (produced using a minimum of 60% Carricante) nor the rosso/red or rosato/rosé (produced from a minimum of 80% Nerello Mascalese).
Rather, these changes add a bit of specificity (and hopefully, prestige) to the sparkling wines of the Etna DOC. Previously, the region was approved for the production of sparkling wines (both white and rosé) grouped under one classification—spumante—based on a minimum of 60% Nerello Mascalese.
Photo via: sostatresanti.com
Under the new regulations, two styles of sparkling wines are allowed to be produced, both requiring a minimum of 80% Nerello Mascalese:
- Etna Spumante Bianco DOC
- Grape varieties:
- Minimum 80% Nerello Mascalese
- Maximum 20% “other grapes suitable for cultivation in Sicily”
- Color: “giallo paglierino più o meno intense” (straw yellow, somewhat intense)
- Aroma: “intenso e caratteristico, talvolta con note agrumate accompagnate” (intense, citrus, yeast)
- Must be vinified as a white wine using red grapes
- Grape varieties:
- Etna Spumante Rosato/Rosè DOC
- Grape varieties:
- Minimum 80% Nerello Mascalese
- Maximum 20% “other grapes suitable for cultivation in Sicily”
- Color: “rosato più o meno intenso anche con riflessi aranciati” (intense pink/rose with orange inflections)
- Aroma: “intenso e caratteristico, con note floreali e speziate accompagnate da un delicato sentore di lievito” (floral/spicy/yeast)
- May be vinified as a rosé wine using red grapes and/or may be produced using a combination of white and red grapes
- Grape varieties:
- The following standards have not changed, and apply to both styles of Etna Spumante DOC:
- Production method: must be produced via the traditional method of sparkling wine production (second fermentation in the bottle)
- Lees aging: minimum of 18 months
- Sweetness level: Brut or Extra Dry
- Alcohol: minimum 11% abv
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As with all such updates, this change will need to wind its way through EU authorization; however, as the Italian government has granted their approval, the changes will be in force (as scheduled) with the release of the wines of the 2020 vintage. If the EU fails to approve the amendment, the regulation will be rescinded (although this is quite unlikely to happen).
References/for more information:
- Gazzetta Ufficiale Feb 2022-Etna DOC (see page 110)
- Proposed modifications Etna DOC-November 2021
- Click here for a map of Sicily and the Etna DOC, via Federdoc
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org