Salvo Foti is the leader of the wine renaissance on Mount Etna in eastern Sicily, beginning in 1981 and now joined by his sons Simone and Andrea. All vines are bush-trained, or albarello (“little trees” in Italian). This is the historical training system on Etna, and Salvo argues that it remains the best one for achieving even and proper ripening on the slopes of the volcano.
'Aurora', meaning “dawn”, is the name of an endangered indigenous butterfly on Mt. Etna. The wine comes from a 2-hectare vineyard at 750 meters of altitude in the village of Caselle, 25 kilometers north of Catania. It’s 90% carricante (by law, the main variety in Etna Bianco) and 10% minnella bianca. Farming is practicing organic; indigenous fermentation for 15-20 days and aging for six months are in stainless steel tanks. The wine is citrusy, herbal, and slightly floral, with a pronounced minerality and acidity, and just 11.5% alcohol. It’s delicious with pesce crudo/sushi as well as with spring vegetables such as peas, favas, and artichokes.
