The Nicolosi Family had been living and working on the volcanic fields of Etna since the 17th century when in 1727, Emperor Charles VI of Augsburg, King of Naples, bestowed Don Carmelo Nicolosi with the title of Baron of Villagrande. 300 years later and in its 10th generation, the family continues to maintain their commitment to the territory with the aim of respecting and enhancing the heritage of the family and the peculiarities of the wine-growing area.

Their Etna vineyard is located on the eastern slope of Mount Etna, overlooking Taormina and the Ionian Sea at over 2000 feet above sea level. These are mountain vineyards, surrounded by oak and chestnut forests and rooted in volcanic fields. The soil here is rich in iron and copper with strong levels of potassium, phosphorus and magnesium, little nitrogen, and no calcium. This makes for perfect fields for the Carricante, Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio vines that spread themselves on well sun-exposed terraces on a surface of 18 hectares.

Temperature and precipitation here is affected by the altitude and volcanic activity. In autumn and winter, this area sees ten times more rain than the rest of Sicily. In winter and at the beginning of germination, minimum temperatures can reach values below 32° F. In summer, maximum temperatures are never as high as in the rest of Sicily, and rain is almost absent. This absence of humidity is accentuated by the field’s slope, deeply draining due to its igneous origin. The huge thermal excursion between day and night is a real blessing for these grapes as it reaches as high as 85° F. This results in a lower alcohol content compared to the average of Sicilian wines, with a peculiar richness in fixed acidity and extracts.