Story: Palmento Costanzo | Piemont
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A winery at the foot of Mount Etna - Palmento Costanzo

Tradition and nature in harmony
Palmento Costanzo is a small, family-run winery on the northern slopes of Mount Etna that is dedicated to producing outstanding wines. The vineyards extend over ten hectares in Passopisciaro, at an altitude of between 650 and 780 meters. Here, on centuries-old terraces of lava rock, the vines are organically cultivated with their own roots. The mineral-rich volcanic soils give the wines of Palmento Costanzo an unmistakable depth and elegance.

The story of the winery began in 2010, when Valeria and Mimmo Costanzo decided to return to the earth of their ancestors. They restored a historic palmento, a traditional Sicilian wine production facility that used to be the center of local viticulture. This lava stone building, which was in use until the mid-20th century, has been restored with respect for history and organic architecture. Today, traditional winemaking techniques are combined with modern know-how to create a unique symbiosis.

The legacy of the Palmento culture
A palmento was once the heart of all wine production in Sicily, especially on Mount Etna. It was built right next to the vineyards and was used to process the grapes immediately after the harvest. In a multi-stage system, the grapes were first crushed with the feet (pista) before the must flowed into underground barrels via channels carved in stone (cannedda). Natural gravity played an important role in this process. This historic process has been preserved in the restored Palmento Costanzo and today forms the basis of the winery's philosophy: a deep respect for the terroir and the traditional methods of winemaking.

The exceptional conditions of Mount Etna
Etna is not only the highest active volcano in Europe, but also one of the most spectacular wine-growing regions in the world. Its soils are rich in minerals, its topography is unique, and the combination of sea and mountains creates a microclimate that offers the vines optimal conditions. The strong temperature fluctuation between day and night - often up to 30 degrees - promotes slow and even ripening of the grapes, allowing them to develop an extraordinary aroma.

Etna's natural features create an environment that is constantly changing. The eruptions of the volcano leave behind a landscape of black ash, lapilli and cooled lava flows, which weather into fertile soils over time. This dynamic gives the wines of Palmento Costanzo their unmistakable mineral character, which can be felt in every bottle.

Indigenous grape varieties and sustainable viticulture
Palmento Costanzo consistently relies on indigenous grape varieties that have thrived in this region for centuries. The red wines focus on Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, while the white wines are made from Caricante and Catarratto. These varieties are perfectly adapted to the unique conditions of Mount Etna and reflect its terroir with remarkable authenticity.

The vines are cultivated using the traditional Alberello method, in which the vines are trained on chestnut wood stakes to protect them from strong winds. This labor-intensive cultivation ensures optimal ventilation of the grapes and even ripening. In addition, the vineyards are cultivated organically, without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, in order to protect the environment and maintain the natural balance of the vineyards.

A tribute to the “Muntagna”
The people who live on Mount Etna affectionately call it A' Muntagna - the “mountain” par excellence. For Palmento Costanzo, the volcano is not just a fixed point in the landscape, but an inexhaustible source of inspiration. The connection to nature, the earth and the rhythm of the elements is reflected in every wine. With the utmost care and dedication, the winery produces wines that honor this unique region while combining the best of tradition and modernity.

Today, Palmento Costanzo is run by Valeria Agosta and her daughter Serena, who is studying viticulture and oenology. Together with a young, dynamic team, they are working to further develop the winery as an outstanding representative of Etnean viticulture. Here, in one of the most fascinating wine-growing regions in the world, they produce wines that not only tell a story, but also reflect the terroir of Mount Etna in its purest form. - Gerardo [TS03/25]