I Custodi’s cellar master is long-time Etna guru Salvo Foti. His touch is one of a bianchista (white wine lover), prizing elegance and tension and keeping the volcanic spice in these wines pristine.  I Custodi has their winery and the majority of their 12 hectares on the northern slope, in the contrade of Moganazzi (Aetneus bottling of oldest vines and others for Pistus), and Feudo di Mezzo (Saeculari bottling of their oldest vines of 150 years old and more). The northern slope is known to be one of the driest, coldest, and with the most concentration of the more elegant Nerello grape variety, Nerello Mascalese. Northern slope reds have long tannins, providing great vertical structure to the wines, not unlike the best Nebbiolo wines.  

Pistus is primarily the younger vines that don’t make it into the Aetneus bottling. Fresh and pure, volcanic spicy, good with a slight chill and good not with a slight chill!

Pairing: Poultry, pork, salmon and tuna, as would a wide variety of pastas

Grape: 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio.

Viticulture: Certified organic by Suolo e Salute # IT-BIO-004

Vineyard: 4.4 Ha in Contrada Muganazzi

Altitude: 650 m / 2,133 ft

Soil: Sandy and volcanic