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Etna DOC is located between Catania and Messina on the eastern coast of Sicily, very close to an active volcano named Mount Etna, a World UNESCO Heritage site. The terroir is out of this world; it features an incredible combination of fine ash, hardened lava, and sand. This results in extremely unique wines, which are the most genuine interpretation of Sicilian culture.

If you want to learn more about this wonderful wine region, click here.

Murgo isn’t just a winery; it’s a living map of Mt. Etna’s volatile beauty. The story took root in 1860, when Senator Luigi Gravina entrusted the Scammacca family with the 30 hectares of Etna soil that would become the Tenuta San Michele estate. Over a century later, Baron Emanuele Scammacca del Murgo breathed new life into that heritage, transforming the land into a modern farm dedicated to capturing the mountain’s raw identity.

The estate has always been a pioneer, trading safe bets for bold moves. In 1981, they hand-labeled their first red, and by 1990, they’d mastered the mountain’s first sparkling wine—a 100% Nerello Mascalese Brut aged for three years on the lees. Today, across 60 hectares of mineral-rich earth, the family treats the land with a light touch.

Perched 500 meters above the sea, the vines live in a constant "tug-of-war" between volcanic heat and the cool Ionian breeze. This extreme climate—combined with French-inspired creativity and a respect for the plant—results in a 350,000-bottle production that ranges from iconic Etna DOCs to liquid-gold olive oils. It is a legacy defined by personality, finesse, and a refusal to be anything but authentically Etna.

2021 vintage is the result of that atmospheric drama—sun-drenched days and shivering nights that give these grapes a serious chip on their shoulder. By balancing time in steel and French oak, the flavors don’t just pour; they erupt. Expect a bright, clean energy backed by a stony, rounded texture and a finish so crisp it practically snaps. It’s a liquid identity crisis in the best way possible: part mountain, part sea, all icon.

70% Caricante, 30% Catarratto Bianco. 

Aroma: Think Meyer lemon doing a high-dive into a Mediterranean tide pool. It’s all white peach fuzz, honeycomb sweetness, and a savory fennel-and-pepper kick.

Mouth: This isn’t just wine; it’s liquid silk. Expect a bottle-aged glow-up with a green tea herbal heart and a finish so crisp it practically snaps.

The 2021 Etna Bianco Tenuta San Michele displays wonderful elegance and finesse with a perfumed blend of honeysuckle and white peach. It washes across the palate with silken textures matched by mineral-inflected pit fruits as a twang of tropical citrus emerges toward the close. Nuances of lime linger through the saline-infused finish as this tapers off long yet fresh.  ~ 93 Vinous Media

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