History of Etna Wine
Etna's winemaking tradition has ancient roots, dating back centuries before our era. Since the Greek period, around the 7th century B.C., the province of Catania established itself as one of the first agricultural areas in Sicily, thanks to the introduction of viticulture.

With the arrival of the Greeks, which colonized Sicily in 729 BC., were made. Major innovations in agricultural techniques and vine cultivation, which soon spread along the slopes of the volcano.
In the fifth century B.C., viticulture in this area was already highly developed and continued to expand under the influence of the Romans, who recognized the exceptional potential of the Etnean territory. However, after a period of great prosperity, Etna viticulture experienced a phase of decline, which continued until the late Middle Ages.
In the fifth century B.C., viticulture in this area was already highly developed and continued to expand under the influence of the Romans, who recognized the exceptional potential of the Etnean territory. However, after a period of great prosperity, Etna viticulture experienced a phase of decline, which continued until the late Middle Ages.

With the beginning of the 1500s, Etna wines began to gain more and more prestige. As early as the 1700s, historical records attest to the spread of viticulture in the Catania area, with the vinoì of the County of Mascali becoming particularly renowned, being exported to Malta and other places.
With the opening of the port of Riposto, the region became a commercial hub, facilitating exports and cementing the reputation of Etna's wines.
During the 19th century, wine production expanded enormously.. New wineries and palmenti emerged, while vineyards, many times owned by local noble families, expanded. By the end of the century, Catania was the most viticulturally productive province in Sicily, with more than 90,000 hectares of vineyards dotting the slopes of the volcano.

Since the 20th century.
However, the beginning of the 20th century marked a critical period for Sicilian viticulture.
The invasion of phylloxera destroyed most of the vines, drastically reducing the area under cultivation. This catastrophic event, combined with the eruptions of Mount Etna, led to a significant decrease in the area under vine, which fell to about 40,000 hectares.
Many of the vineyards were converted to hazelnut and chestnut groves in order to maintain productivity.
August 11, 1968.
Despite these adversities, by the mid-20th century there was a revival of Etna's viticulture. On August 11, 1968, Etna obtained official recognition as a controlled designation of origin (DOC), the first in Sicily and one of the oldest in Italy. In the 1990s, the arrival of new investors, local and international, ignited a renewed interest in the native wines of Etna, now considered a true excellence in the world wine scene.
Today, Etna represents a terroir of extraordinary importance, capable of producing wines that combine tradition and innovation, testifying to the richness and identity of a unique territory.
