Summary
Barone di Villagrande has a very long history in Etna - perhaps the longest recorded as the Nicolosi family arrived on Etna at the beginning of the 18th century. The Bishop of Catania presented the task to the family to turn the harsh fields of Etna from an “horrific and untamed place to a delicious garden.” The family was so dedicated to cultivating the area that in 1727 the Emperor Charles VI of Augsburg, King of Naples, bestowed Don Carmelo Nicolosi with the title of Baron of Villagrande.
As the family evolved they continued to farm in Etna’s harsh climate. In 1969, Paolo Nicolosi built the new cellar and was the first to make mono-varietal wines in Etna. This change was revolutionary because in Etna, as well as the whole country of Italy, wine was made by blending all the grapes together without any distinction of color or variety. Paolo was also instrumental in creating the designation of Etna Bianco Superiore. Today the estate is in the hands of Marco Nicolosi who continues the tradition but has also brought new ideas and vision to the future of the estate and the region as a whole.
The estate consists of 18 hectares of vines at 700 meters above the sea level, on the eastern slope of Etna that overlooks Taormina and the Ionian Sea. Villagrande’s vineyards have been certified organic since 1989., and their goal is to leave as little impact on the environment as possible by using donkey natural fertilizer that comes from a farm next to their forest, using Etnean chestnut poles, and the same chestnut wood barrels for for their Etna Rosso production.
