On the northern slopes of Mount Etna, in Passopisciaro, Palmento Costanzo reveals the volcanic soul of Contrada Santo Spirito. Old vines, lava-stone terraces, Nerello Mascalese, Carricante and parcel-by-parcel vinification give rise to precise, mineral wines deeply marked by the energy of the volcano.

Palmento Costanzo — The volcanic expression of Mount Etna’s northern slope

Palmento Costanzo, sometimes referred to as Cantine Costanzo, is located in Passopisciaro, within Contrada Santo Spirito, on the northern slope of Mount Etna. The estate belongs to one of Italy’s most spectacular wine landscapes: lava-stone terraces, old alberello-trained vines, soils shaped by successive lava flows and the direct influence of the volcano.

The project is built around a clear idea: preserving the ancient soul of a historic palmento while integrating it into a contemporary, precise and sustainable vision of Etna wine. Each contrada, each parcel and each lava flow brings a different nuance, which the estate seeks to express with purity.

Contrada Santo Spirito, the heart of the estate

The vineyard covers around 18 hectares, much of it in Contrada Santo Spirito, the estate’s emblematic site. Located in Passopisciaro, this contrada is home to very old vines of Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante and Catarratto, some of them more than a century old.

The presence of ancient lava flows, notably the 1879 flow, has deeply shaped the composition of the soils. Palmento Costanzo highlights this diversity through a precise parcel-based approach, especially with Particelle 464, 466 and 468, each expressing a different facet of Santo Spirito.

Volcanic terroir and old vines

Etna’s soils are born from lava, time and altitude. They give the wines a distinctive energy: bright fruit, mineral tension, fine tannins and a saline sensation on the finish. On these demanding terraces, old vines root deeply into volcanic rock, bringing natural concentration without heaviness.

Nerello Mascalese dominates the red wines, often accompanied by Nerello Cappuccio. The whites are mainly based on Carricante, a grape variety capable of expressing the freshness, verticality and stony dimension of Etna’s finest terroirs.

Cellar precision and respect for place

The modern winery was built beside the restored historic palmento, with a strong sense of integration into the landscape. The estate works with separate vinifications in order to preserve the identity of each parcel and each expression of the volcano.

Depending on the cuvée, ageing takes place in stainless steel, tonneaux, large casks or Ovum vessels. The aim remains the same: to accompany the wine without dominating it, preserve the integrity of the fruit, refine the texture and allow the volcanic origin to speak clearly.

Wine style

The red wines of Palmento Costanzo combine the delicacy of Nerello Mascalese with a precise, mineral structure. They often evoke cherry, wild strawberry, pomegranate, fine spices, smoke, dried herbs and warm stone, with fine tannins and great freshness.

The whites offer a tense and luminous expression of Etna: citrus fruit, white flowers, aromatic herbs, saline notes and a chalky finish. Across the range, the wines stand out for their balance between volcanic energy, aromatic purity and elegant texture.

Signature cuvées

Food pairings

Palmento Costanzo’s red wines pair beautifully with grilled veal chop, herb-roasted lamb, pasta alla Norma, seared bluefin tuna, roasted vegetables, smoked dishes and mature cheeses. The whites are ideal with grilled fish, shellfish, citrus risotto, octopus, Mediterranean cuisine and seafood-driven preparations.