Founded at the turn of the century by Andrea Franchetti, Passopisciaro permanently altered the trajectory of Italian winemaking by revealing the untapped potential of Mount Etna's high-altitude bush vines. Franchetti’s relentless belief in single-site terroir established a new benchmark for Italian reds, a family legacy now spearheaded by his son, Benjamin Franchetti. Planted at 850 meters on a relatively "young" lava flow (sciara) from the 1600s, Sciaranuova delivers a darker, more brooding, and distinctly savory profile. Its deep, gravelly volcanic soils impart serious structural grip and an irresistible smoky minerality. The nose leads with pure strawberry, citrus peel, and dried lavender, underpinned by blood orange, crushed iron, and tobacco leaf, filling the mouth with round textures before finishing long, tense, and youthfully energetic.

Critical Acclaim: 

94 Points, Vinous Media:

The 2024 Contrada S is spicy in the glass, with a whiff of balsamic cherry, incense, white smoke and dusty dried flowers. This is remarkably pretty and refined, with pure strawberry, citrus tones and round textures underscored by a twang of blood orange. Long and youthfully tense, it leaves the cheeks puckered as hints of tart blackberry and licorice fade.

Why You'll Love It

• Volcanic Energy: Built on raw 17th-century lava soils that lend an unmistakable iron-and-smoke mineral vein.

• Sensational Structure: Balances vibrant, citrus-tinged acidity with fine-grained, energetic tannins built for long cellaring.

• The Savory Choice: Perfect for collectors who prefer dark fruit, blood orange tension, and complex herbal notes over high florals.

How To Serve It

• Ideal Temperature: Serve at 58°F–62°F (14°C–16°C) in Burgundy stems.

• Decanting: Decant for 60 to 90 minutes to let the youthful tension soften and reveal its deeper fruit layers.

• Food Pairing: Prime dry-aged steak, grilled lamb chops, or slow-cooked wild boar ragù.