Salvo Foti
Salvo Foti, Aurora, Sicily, Italy, Carricante, 2023
Etna is the tallest and largest active volcano in Europe, and what's so interesting about all of the wine grown on those slopes is that the volcanic ash and activity definitely influences the texture and flavor of the wine. Salvo Foti is one of my favorite wine makers in Sicily. His wines always feel so in tune with the landscape and terroir of such a magical place. Aurora is the name of a small, elegant butterfly that is native to Etna which is currently at risk of extinction. Foti is making wine about 10KM from the center of Etna’s crater and the soils are distinctly volcanic and sandy. Everything is approached through a natural lens including farming with the cycles of the moon. This wine is made from Carricante, which at this elevation and terroir is an absolute dream. The wine is completely citrus driven with touches of salinity and a tiny hint of wax. Italian summer loading within this bottle.
Pairing: Fried eggplant; cheese boards on the deck; soft shell crab