2025 Idda Etna Bianco, Mt Etna

Lime-infused nectarine mixes with wet stones and hints of cardamom as the 2025 Etna Bianco blossoms in the glass. It’s pleasantly sweet up front, with balancing minerality further enhanced by a tart green-apple twang. The 2025 finishes wonderfully fresh and perfumed, leaving behind sour citrus nuances that force the senses to salivate. There’s a lovely tension here that nicely balances the richness of the fruit.

93 points Eric Guido, Vinous September 2026

Few wine collaborations have generated as much excitement on Mount Etna as IDDA, the partnership between Angelo Gaja, one of Piedmont's most celebrated producers, and Sicilian winemaker Alberto Graci. The name means she in the local dialect, a reference to the volcano that dominates the landscape and shapes the character of its wines. Established in 2017, the project has focused on the less familiar southwestern slopes of Etna, where altitude, ancient lava flows and remarkable variations in soil create exceptional conditions for growing indigenous varieties. The Etna Bianco is a wonderful introduction to the estate's distinctive approach.

Carricante is the principal grape, a variety renowned for its naturally high acidity, citrus intensity and ability to express the mineral character of Etna's volcanic soils. The vineyards sit at elevation, where warm Mediterranean sunshine is tempered by cool mountain air and significant differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures. The 2025 is shaped around freshness and texture, with careful winemaking allowing the fruit and savoury character of the vineyard to remain central. There is an appealing combination of concentration and restraint, making this a particularly versatile white for the table.

Pale straw yellow with delicate green reflections. Lemon zest, grapefruit and crisp green apple mingle with white peach, orange blossom and a hint of fresh fennel. Subtle notes of crushed stone and sea spray add a distinctly volcanic, coastal character. The palate is bright and finely textured, with juicy citrus, orchard fruit and a refreshing mineral edge. A little almond and savoury herb character emerges through the middle, while the finish is long, clean and gently saline. There is plenty of energy here, but also enough substance to make it considerably more interesting than a simple summer white.

Grilled calamari with lemon and parsley, prawns with garlic and olive oil or whole baked snapper with fennel would all make excellent companions. Linguine with clams, zucchini fritters or burrata with tomatoes and basil would be equally appealing. Serve cool rather than icy cold to appreciate its texture and delicate aromatic detail.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2032. Delicious for its youthful freshness, with Carricante's natural acidity providing the potential for several years of additional complexity.