Eduardo Torres Acosta Arenaria Contrada 2022

Eduardo Torres Acosta Arenaria Contrada 2022 is a singular expression of Nerello Mascalese from a non‑volcanic corner of northern Sicily, far from Etna’s famous black soils yet within its visual horizon. Sourced from over 70‑year‑old vines at 700 meters above sea level on Monte Portella near Castiglione di Sicilia, this wine offers an unusually chiselled, mineral side of the grape. Arenaria Contrada stands out for its sandstone-based terroir and for reviving an historic area once known as Terre Bianche, giving Nerello a new, more crystalline voice.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Arenaria Contrada 2022 tends toward a pale, transparent ruby hue, with a delicacy of color more akin to fine alpine reds than the darker tones often associated with Sicily. The rim is bright and limpid, hinting at freshness and finesse rather than sheer power. On the nose, expect lifted aromas of wild red berries, pomegranate, sour cherry and rose petals, layered with notes of blood orange zest, dried herbs, white pepper and a distinct stony, quartz-like minerality. There is an airy, high-altitude feel to the bouquet—precise, subtle and quietly complex. The palate is taut and finely etched, with vibrant acidity and a graceful, medium-light body. Redcurrant, cranberry and cherry fruit are framed by ultra-fine, chalk-dust tannins, giving a sensation of crunch and cut rather than grip. The sandstone and light clay soils translate into a saline, almost mouthwatering finish, with lingering notes of spice, citrus peel and stone. While approachable in its youth for those who enjoy energetic, mineral-driven reds, this 2022 has the structure and acidity to develop further complexity over the next 6–8 years, gaining additional depth of flavor and tertiary nuance.

Production
The fruit for Arenaria Contrada 2022 comes from venerable bush-trained vines over 70 years old in the Castiglione di Sicilia area, planted at around 700 meters above sea level on Monte Portella’s northern slopes. Unlike much of the Etna region, these vineyards are rooted not in lava but in ancient underwater sedimentary soils dominated by sandstone, with light clay and quartz—pale, mineral-rich “white lands” historically known as Terre Bianche. The altitude and exposure give cool nights, slow ripening and naturally high acidity. Grapes are carefully hand-harvested to preserve the integrity of these old vines, then vinified with a gentle, minimalist touch in the cellar to let the terroir speak: typically involving spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, a restrained use of extraction, and maturation in neutral vessels so that the delicate structure and mineral character of Nerello Mascalese from this unique non-volcanic site can fully emerge.

Food & Serving
This elegant, high-altitude Nerello Mascalese is a versatile partner for refined, subtly flavored dishes. It pairs beautifully with grilled or roasted poultry (especially herb-crusted chicken or guinea fowl), veal scaloppine, pork tenderloin with fennel and citrus, and Sicilian-inspired tuna or swordfish dishes. It also complements mushroom risotto, roasted root vegetables, aubergine-based pasta, and semi-aged cheeses like Ragusano or Pecorino. Serve at 14–16°C in a Burgundy-style glass to highlight its aromatics and texture. A gentle decant of 30–45 minutes can help the wine unfurl its florals and mineral notes, especially in the first few years after release.

Producer
Canary Islands–born winemaker Eduardo Torres Acosta has become one of the most compelling voices in contemporary Sicilian wine, particularly around the broader Etna area. Having trained and worked with top domaines, he brings a thoughtful, terroir-first approach that emphasizes old vines, sensitive farming and low-intervention winemaking. His work in sites like the historic Terre Bianche of Castiglione di Sicilia is especially significant, as he is helping to reclaim and re-interpret forgotten non-volcanic vineyards that offer a strikingly different facet of Nerello Mascalese. Eduardo’s bottlings are now sought after by sommeliers and collectors alike for their precision, authenticity and ability to express the nuanced diversity of Sicily’s high-altitude landscapes.