IDDA
Etna Rosso
Sicily
2019

The producer

IDDA is a distinguished wine project born from the collaboration between two renowned Italian wine families, Gaja and Graci, who have come together to explore the unique terroir of Mount Etna in Sicily. Focusing on the southern slopes of the volcano, IDDA is dedicated to producing wines that capture the elegance, complexity, and distinct character of this volcanic region. The estate currently spans 20 hectares of vineyards located at elevations between 600 and 800 meters above sea level, primarily cultivating the indigenous Nerello Mascalese for their red wines and Carricante for their whites. IDDA wines, particularly the Etna Rosso, are celebrated for their vibrant expression of ripe fruit, balanced by freshness and a touch of the volcanic minerality that is characteristic of the region. This collaboration represents a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, contributing to the growing prestige of Etna wines on the global stage.

The wine

IDDA Etna Rosso is a red wine born from the collaboration between the renowned Gaja and Graci families, who have joined forces to explore the unique terroir of Mount Etna’s southern slopes. Their mission is to uncover vineyards that embody both elegance and complexity. Currently, the winery owns 20 hectares of vineyards, situated at elevations ranging from 600 to 800 meters above sea level, in the villages of Belpasso and Biancavilla. They primarily cultivate the red variety Nerello Mascalese and the white variety Carricante, with plans for additional vineyards in the future.

The 2019 IDDA Etna Rosso is notable for its intense and vibrant ruby hue. Aromas of violet, black cherry, and mulberry emerge from the glass, leading to a palate that delivers a clear expression of ripe, sweet fruit with intriguing hints of tomato leaf and oregano. The wine boasts a charming, juicy body, marked by a harmonious balance of freshness and ripe, well-integrated tannins. The finish is long and satisfying, leaving a lasting impression of its refined character.

We choose our wines based on a range of criteria (see how we choose our wines) of which critic scores is just one. Rather than simply highlight the best score to promote a wine, our average critic score is calculated from the scores provided by several respected wine critics, who we follow for specific regions. They do not represent all critic scores and, wherever possible, we try and give more weight to more recent reviews. Where appropriate we consider market-based scores like Global Wine Score or Wine Searcher Average scores.

As a rule, we look to offer wines that achieve a 92/100 average critic score or better and frankly a lot of very good wines simply don’t make the cut. As a high-end provider we want to reflect that positioning in the quality of wines we offer. Such wines are only a tiny fraction of those generally on offer in the market. We believe that an average score is a more conservative and representative approach, but it is still subjective and only offered as a guide to our customers, who will (and should) do their own research. We will add individual critic scores to our website in the future.