Different by nature: the unexpected Etna of Tenute Ballasanti

Tenute Ballasanti makes its debut at Vinitaly 2023 , giving a new interpretation of Etna and the vines that have always characterized it. The new oenological project was born from Manuela Seminara , a woman with strong Sicilian roots in love with her native land, and Fabio Gualandris , an astrophysicist from Bergamo with a passion for botany, both with international managerial experience. A meeting between North and South, between family and entrepreneurship that provides an excellent expression of Etna enology. The history of the company dates back to the early 1900s, when Don Lorenzo acquired the first properties on the estate. Then the leadership of the wine business passed to his son Angelo, Manuela's grandfather, who was able to pass on to his granddaughter the love for an incredible land. A love so strong that Manuela manages to convey the magic of this territory to Fabio, her life partner. Together they take up the legacy left by their grandfather Angelo and bring their managerial skills to Tenute Ballasanti, giving a new perspective to the reality of Etna. Thus the couple enters the world of wine today, involving their children Simone, Davide, Gaia Morgana and Lorenzo in their journey. The territory is central, in fact, the vineyards of Tenute Ballasanti are located in the municipalities of S.Alfio, Giarre, Milo, Mascali and Piedimonte Etneo, all localities on the slopes of the volcano, known in Sicily as the " Mountain ". The plots have permeable soil , rich in potassium and on average poor in nitrogen and phosphorus and are located on the eastern slope of Etna , at an altitude ranging from 400 to 900 metres. A unique terroir in the world that links the typical characteristics of the Mediterranean climate to that of the mountain climate. In this context, luxuriant vines of Nerello Mascalese , Carricante , Catarratto , Nerello Cappuccio , Minnella and Perricone grow. To take care of the riches given by the earth, Tenute Ballasanti has chosen a team made up of local workers and selected professionals from all over Italy . Among these, the Piedmontese winemaker Gianluca Scaglione who, together with Manuela and Fabio, has created fine and elegant wines. The production is centered on three monovarietals, one white and two reds: Il Tenace from carricante grapes, Il Temerario and Il Sublime both from nerello mascalese grapes . Il Tenace , straw-yellow in color with bright greenish reflections, has a delicately balsamic aroma, with floral and fresh hay notes, a ferrous and mineral finish and a generous, savory and enveloping flavour. The Temerario , on the other hand, colors the glass of a ruby-cherry color with slight garnet reflections. Its intense balsamic note with a floral and fruity background accompanies a juicy and harmonious sip, supported by a good minerality and integrated tannins. Finally, the Sublime , of an intense and deep red, has hints of currant and black pepper with vanilla and slightly rusty notes and offers a captivating drink, given by its tannic backbone.