Frank Cornelissen – Munjebel Etna Rosso – 2021

Description

“Accept and follow nature” is the philosophy of Frank Cornelissen’s winery. Of Belgian origins, after many enological experiences, in 2001 he established the winery in Sicily, on Mount Etna. Since the very beginning Cornelissen was struck by the fertile and extraordinary territory of Etna volcano trying to produce wines with a great expressive identity in an area which is still not very exploited and known. The key and fundamental concept of the winery is not to intervene in an invasive way in the vineyard, therefore avoiding the use of chemicals, of plowing the land, but to follow nature. Moreover fruit trees and cereals are integrated in the vineyards in order to avoid having a monoculture and to help the ecosystem. The winery is located in Castiglione di Sicilia and it manages 24 hectares of vineyards, woods and olive groves on the northern side of Etna between 600 and 1000 meters of altitude, an area which is more favorable for the quality of Nerello Mascalese thanks to cooler temperatures. In addition to the respect and care for the land, in order to produce great and territorial wines the yields per plant are very low, between 300 and 600 grams of grapes. Even in the cellar are used only neutral containers for fermentations such as tanks, or fiberglass for aging. The winery never uses wooden barrels! The style is just to exalt the volcanic soils of every single district that give minerality and notes of sulfur, herbaceous, vegetable. Extraordinary Purist!