Variety: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio

Giuseppe Russo left his native Sicily for a time, trained as a pianist and music teacher, and studied literature. But when his father, Girolamo, died, Giuseppe returned in 2005 to make “the best wines (I) can in this exceptional, often challenging but uniquely beautiful area.” Although the Russo family calls the area in and around Passopisciaro home, it is an interesting and dynamic place that is attracting winemakers from all over the world. The Russos have 26 hectares of land, 15 planted to vineyards and the rest to olives and hazelnut groves. Their vineyards are on the north face of Europe’s largest active volcano, Mount Etna, in the north-eastern corner of Sicily.

“Feudo” is another single vineyard from the larger contrada of Randazzo. Vines here are over 70 years old sitting at an altitude of 650-670 meters. Only the single oldest hectare of vines is selected for Feudo. It is raised between large barrels, cement, and vats.