2025 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosato

Tenuta delle Terre Nere's 2025 Etna Rosato is crafted from organically farmed Nerello Mascalese grown on the north-facing slopes of Mount Etna, where volcanic ash, black pumice, and abundant volcanic rock shape one of Sicily's most expressive terroirs. Since Marc de Grazia founded the estate in 2002, Terre Nere has been widely regarded as the benchmark producer for Etna wine, and this rosato carries the same precision and mineral signature that defines the estate's celebrated rosso bottlings. The wine is made in a pale, delicate style closer to traditional Provençal rosé than the deeper blush wines common elsewhere, reflecting the estate's commitment to transparency and place over extraction. The estate's vineyards sit at meaningful altitude on Etna's volcanic soils, where Nerello Mascalese—the grape that anchors nearly all serious red and rosato production in the Etna DOC—develops bright acidity and a distinctive mineral backbone even in this lighter expression. Terre Nere farms organically across its holdings, and the volcanic minerality that runs through the entire portfolio is present here in a more delicate register. The estate's approach to winemaking emphasizes clarity and structure, allowing the volcanic terroir to speak through each wine without unnecessary intervention. This rosato undergoes the same meticulous fruit selection and gentle handling that Marc de Grazia and his team apply to the estate's flagship reds, ensuring the wine captures Etna's singular character in a format suited to warmer weather and lighter fare. The 2025 vintage shows a pale pink-orange hue and offers aromas of fresh strawberry, wild raspberry, and citrus zest layered with delicate florals and the subtle smokiness that signals Etna's volcanic influence. On the palate, expect a light-bodied, crisp wine with the bright acidity and fine saline finish characteristic of Terre Nere's entire range, plus a texture that echoes the transparency and precision found in the estate's Nerello Mascalese-based rosso. This is a rosé built for structure and food-pairing versatility rather than fruit-forward simplicity, making it an excellent match for grilled fish, charcuterie, light pasta dishes, and Mediterranean cuisine generally. The wine's mineral backbone and lively acidity allow it to handle richer preparations and oily fish in ways that many rosés cannot, while still delivering the refreshment the style promises. This bottle is available for pickup at Off Premise Chicago, 1128 W Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park, with local Chicago delivery and nationwide shipping.