An interesting new project situated at 850-900m above sea level in the Panella-Petto Dragone contrada in Linguaglossa, on Etna’s north slope is Blindspot Vineyard, founded by Matt & Carolyn Burghoff. This 2022 is the first vintage, just 700 bottles of field-blend Nerello Mascalese & other local varieties vinified in stainless steel and aged in amphora. Super bright & juicy, it features fragrant sour cherry & promegranate, with cleansing acidity & fine tannins. A positive first step, this is one to follow — James Button Decanter Magazine

In the summer of 2021, Matt Burghoff opened a bottle of Etna Rosso that changed his life. It was so delicious that that autumn he flew to the mountain & bought a small farm on the north-east slope in Contrada Panella-Petto Dragone, which extends from 850-900 meters above sea level. Today, Punto Cieco (www.blindspotvineyard.com) produces an extremely limited quanity of elegant Etna Rosso from old vines and new plantings of Etna’s traditional white grapes. As the name suggests, you may not be able to see the estate from the road, but the Wines are worth seeking out—Benjamin North Spencer The New Wines of Mt. Etna

GIORNALE ONLINE DI ENOGASTRONOMIA

Thirty-three Unmissable wines in the Etna Wine Guide 2025 published by Cronache di Gusto. Our online newspaper is dedicated to the presentation of the new Etna Wine Guide, one of a kind, and to the list of Unmissable wines, or the maximum excellence of the territory.

Here is one of the 33 unmissable wines of the Etna Wine Guide 2025:

Doc Etna Rosso Contrada Panella-Petto Dragone 2022 – Punto Cieco Vineyard

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Organic, minimally processed, hand-harvested, 90% field-blended Nerello Mascalese (prized for its ability to express a soil’s character) + 10% other indigenous Etna varietals aged in oak, steel, & amphora result in a wine with fresh acidity, brightness, a slight flinty minerality and just enough softness from the oak to round things out. Light-bodied and full of red fruit, with nudges of dried herbs, cinnamon bark and light smoke, it’s elegant and crisp with soft tannins and a nuanced and layered finish.

Yum.

This is one of those wines that made my heart flutter, and really – isn’t that the effect that you want wine to have?

Vino Bianco 2023

A beautiful expression of 100% Carricante. Raised in stainless steel for 9 months with 6 months on the lees and batonnage occurring twice a month. Textured in the mouth, but with a brightness on the palate that gives way to flavors of meyer lemon and yellow apple, notes of tarragon and anise, and a long, saline finish.

A great bottle to appreciate the nuances of this Grape.

Vino Rosso 2023

A blend of 90% Nerello Mascalese, 5% Nerello Cappuccio, and 5% Carricante with aging taking place in a terra cotta vessel. In the glass, it shows a dark ruby color with aromas of violets, sage, black cherry and plum. A great insight in showing how both Nerellos work together in harmony.

Excellent approachability and drinkability now.

Contrada Panella Petto Dragone Etna Rosso DOC 2022

Composed of 90% Nerello Mascalese, 5% Carricante, and 5% Inzolia, this bottle is indicative of the potential of the contrada. Aged in a combination of used French oak, stainless steel, and amphora, the wine displays an elegant garnet hue along with floral notes of rose and cinnamon, bright red cherry, and wild raspberry on the nose. Its silky tannin structure shows refinement on the palate and capability of aging.

A wine of place.