Le Contrade dell'Etna

A showcase in the heart of Etna

Le Contrade dell'Etna is the benchmark event for volcanic wines, hosted in Randazzo, a town in the province of Catania nestled on the northwestern slope of Mount Etna, within the Etna DOC appellation. The event is held at the Sikania Garden Village, where producers' tasting tables are set up in a large space featuring greenhouses, indoor halls, and outdoor areas immersed in the Etna landscape.

History: from Andrea Franchetti to today

The event was born in 2008 from an intuition of Andrea Franchetti, an eclectic winemaker and pioneer of the Etna viticultural renaissance, owner of the Passopisciaro winery and the Tuscan Tenuta di Trinoro. Franchetti brought the convivial spirit of en primeur tasting to the volcano, following the Bordeaux tradition: producers present their young new vintages, sharing the story of their work directly. Following Franchetti's passing in 2021, the organization has been managed by the Crew company since 2022, which has strengthened its national and international profile.

Terroirs and contrade

The very name of the event refers to the contrade of Etna, the geographical units that divide the volcano into micro-terroirs with unique characteristics, shaped by different altitudes, exposures, and volcanic soils. Native grape varieties dominate the glasses: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio for reds, and Carricante for whites, alongside classic method sparkling wines, which represent a growing frontier for the appellation.

Two days of tasting and wine culture

The two-day format alternates between an opening for enthusiasts and a session reserved for industry professionals. Alongside the tasting tables of about one hundred wineries, the program offers masterclasses, talks, and forums with speakers from the wine world, as well as the presence of about sixty trade journalists and numerous Italian and international buyers. It is an appointment that combines tasting, education, and market opportunities.

Randazzo and the northern slope

Visiting Le Contrade dell'Etna also means discovering Randazzo, a medieval town of volcanic stone that is among the best-preserved in Sicily, and the entire northern slope of Etna, one of the most fascinating wine regions in the Mediterranean, where high-altitude vineyards coexist with the lava flows of Europe's highest active volcano.