Grottafumata

Nestled on Mount Etna, Grottafumata is the passion project of Mauro Cutuli and Mariangela Prestifilippo, who began with an award-winning organic olive oil before expanding into wine. Their olive grove, inherited from Mauro’s grandfather, thrives on volcanic soil rich in lava, limestone, sandstone, and clay. Alongside olives, they cultivate mandarancio for marmalade and wild herbs for salt and honey.

Their vineyards sit on Monte Ilice, a breathtakingly steep, sandy volcanic slope at 700-840m elevation on Etna’s eastern side. Here, they work with ancient vines, some up to 100 years old and own-rooted. Eschewing DOC labels for full freedom, they produce two expressive natural wines:

🍷 Bianco – A Carricante, Catarratto, and Minella blend, fermented on skins for three days and aged in steel. Volcanic minerality, round texture, and notes of honey and wild herbs.

🍷 Rosso – A mix of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, bursting with smoky aromatics, vibrant fruit, and silky finesse.

Grottafumata also crafts a Grenache that perfectly marries Etna’s altitude, lava-rich soil, and the grape’s elegance, delivering haunting perfume and luscious tannins.

From olives to wine, their work is a tribute to Etna’s wild beauty: untamed, authentic, and full of life.