2018 FEDERICO GRAZIANI FEDEGRAZIANI ETNA ROSSO Federico Graziani won best Italian sommelier in 1998 at the Italian Association of Sommeliers competition at 23 years of age, allowing him to work with some of Italy's most influential chefs while earning a degree in Viticulture and Enology in 2006. That same year, Federico was ready to make wine from Sicily's Mt. Etna, so he contacted famed enologist and Etna expert Salvo Foti for help finding old head-trained vines near the mountain's base. Interestingly, the Etna DOC shares similarities to Burgundy with a likeness in soil diversity, differing aspects, and the age of the vineyards. These vineyards wrap around the volcanic mountainsides, providing wines with intense minerality, concentration, and complex nuance. Federico's 2018 Fedegraziani Etna Rosso has won critical acclaim and is on the wine lists of some of the world's finest restaurants, including, Geranium and Osteria Francescana. The "Federico Graziani Fedegraziani Etna Rosso" is farmed organically. Federico Graziani's vineyards, located on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, are managed with a deep respect for the environment and local biodiversity. The vines, which are around 15 to 20 years old, are cultivated using traditional methods without the use of chemicals, ensuring a natural and sustainable approach to viticulture​. "Mid to deep crimson. Raspberry, damson, wild strawberry on the nose and with hints of tamarind and cinnamon bark. Gorgeous, supple palate with plenty of stuffing while this has only 12.5% alcohol. Succulent, transparent and with surprisingly soft tannins. Really opens up in the glass. Super-attuned to burgundy lovers." 17+/20