About us
Our story, our ambition
Margriet, fascinated about viticulture and Maurizio, an illustrious Sicilian wine personage, both drawn towards mountains and sea, both having a thing about the Etna volcano.
Late autumn 2019, love at first sight. We found a stunning abandoned vineyard of well over a century old on the northeast slope of the Etna with an even more abandoned typical Etnean noble’s casale (country house) and winemaking cellars.
The vineyard has an ideal environment for the vine to develop: the altitude (650-700 meters), and of course the fertile and characteristic pure black and sandy lava soil rich in microelements brought by volcanic eruptions. The main grape variety is the indigenous Etna red grape Nerello Mascalese, and some ancient white grape Carricante plants.
Our ambition is to continue to cultivate these vines in the form of the ‘alberello’ method and with local traditional techniques: all manual and organic. This way of cultivating risks to disappear as it is less productive and more labor intensive. However, the grape produced is of exquisite quality and the wines are the delicious result of one of the oldest winemaking traditions in the world, part of a tremendous Sicilian heritage.
Sustainable interpretation of Etna's terroir
Our mission is twofold: to maintain the labor-intensive sustainable traditions of the Etna region, work with the local craftmanship, stay at kilometer 'zero', and to deepen our understanding of its potential through viticultural research. From recovering "forgotten" grapes to studying soil-rootstock synergy, we want our bottle to be a precise expression of our land.
We’ve built a diverse world of experiences around our estate, weaving together hospitality,comfortable lodging, local cuisine, culture and outdoor adventure.
2020
Production area:
Casale 120 winery is established. First harvest.
Our Commitment to the Community
At Casale 120, we are most thankful for the territory to have welcomed us and we are dedicated to give back to the people and land around us. Social responsibility for us is a promise to the Rovittello community and the wider Etnean territory.
We actively seek to pioneer pro-bono initiatives that foster education, environmental stewardship, and local visibility. Local projects include:
Educational tours: inviting school groups to explore sustainable agriculture and Etna’s unique heritage.
Environmental care: supporting "clean-up" days to keep our public paths and streets pristine.
Local advocacy: partnering with artisans to put our community on the map for conscious travelers.
Nerello Mascalese
Carricante
The white grape Carricante is indigenous to Sicily variety that probably owes its name to its abundant productivity. This late-ripening vine is the main variety used in the Etna Bianco (at least 60%), while those labeled Etna Bianco Superiore must be (at least 80%).
Carricante is primarily grown on the volcanic terraces of Mount Etna at vineyards on high altitudes up to approx. 1000 meter taking benefit of diurnal temperature variation, leading to fresher, lighter wines.
Carricante wines have high acidity and minerality, as well as notes of citrus and stone fruit.
