Prices are for take away and shipping. The wine bar serves from its own list.
The winery
About Pietradolce
History
Pietradolce is a family project on the northern slope of Mount Etna, in Solicchiata, a village in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia. The Faro family also runs Piante Faro, one of Sicily's largest plant nurseries, based in Giarre. Michele Faro began buying old vineyards around 2005, and the first vintage followed in 2007. He has said the name, meaning sweet stone, comes from the way his grandfather spoke of the soft, porous lava stone of the mountain.
The land and the vineyards
About 30 hectares lie on the northern slopes, in the contrade Rampante, Zottorinoto, Santo Spirito and Feudo di Mezzo, between 650 and 950 metres above sea level. A further 2 hectares are on the eastern side in Contrada Caselle, near Milo, at about 850 metres.
Many of the vines are old, ungrafted bush vines on lava terraces. The Nerello Mascalese plants are around a century old, and the Carricante for the white comes from vines over a hundred years old. Wine Spectator reports that the vineyards are farmed organically.
The wines
The cellar works with the two native Etna grapes: Nerello Mascalese for the reds and Carricante for the whites. Archineri, the first single vineyard red, dates from the 2007 vintage. Barbagalli comes from the oldest, lowest yielding Nerello vineyard. Contrada Rampante and Contrada Guardiola are further single site reds, and there is an Archineri white from Carricante, plus a skin contact Carricante.
The winery is built from black lava stone and glass and works by gravity. Reds age in oak in an underground barrel room, and fermentation also takes place in small tulip shaped raw concrete tanks of 40 hectolitres each. The wines are made with the Tuscan consultant Carlo Ferrini.
Today
Production is small, at about 4,000 cases a year according to Wine Spectator. The company behind the label is Piante Faro, and the Faro family stays closely involved.
- Founded
- First vintage 2007
- Vineyards (hectares)
- About 32 (30 north slope, 2 east slope)
- Main grapes
- Nerello Mascalese, Carricante
- Owners
- Faro family (Piante Faro)
- Winemaker
- Michele Faro with consultant Carlo Ferrini