2023 Planeta Sicilia Etna Bianco, Sicily

Planeta Etna Bianco is a beautifully expressive white wine from Sicily’s famed Mount Etna, capturing the unique volcanic terroir and the refined elegance of Carricante, the indigenous white grape of the region. Planeta is one of Sicily’s most influential modern wineries, founded in the 1990s by Alessio, Francesca, and Santi Planeta, who pioneered the island’s renaissance by combining tradition with a contemporary, terroir-driven approach. Their Etna Bianco comes from vineyards on the northern slopes of the volcano, where high altitudes, rocky volcanic soils, and dramatic temperature swings shape wines of remarkable minerality and finesse.

The vineyards lie between 650 and 870 metres above sea level near the village of Passopisciaro, one of Etna’s most prestigious subzones. The soils are composed almost entirely of black volcanic ash and pumice, which drain freely while retaining enough moisture to sustain vines through hot Sicilian summers. The cool nights and long growing season allow Carricante to ripen slowly, preserving crisp acidity and building delicate citrus and floral aromatics. The fruit is hand harvested, gently pressed, and fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures to highlight purity and minerality. A brief period on fine lees adds texture and subtle complexity.

In the glass, Planeta Etna Bianco is pale straw with green hues. Aromas of lemon zest, white peach, orange blossom, and crushed stone rise delicately, underpinned by a flinty, saline edge that reflects the volcanic soils. The palate is taut and vibrant, with citrus and orchard fruit flavours carried by racy acidity and a chalky, mineral-driven finish. It’s a wine that combines Sicilian sunshine with Alpine-like freshness, offering precision and personality in equal measure.

This Etna Bianco pairs beautifully with grilled swordfish, calamari with lemon, Sicilian prawn linguine, or creamy burrata with olive oil and herbs. It’s also excellent alongside oysters and other shellfish. Best enjoyed in its youth for its vibrant energy, it can also evolve gracefully for 5 to 7 years, gaining nutty, honeyed complexity.