2023 Etna Bianco Superiore Vigna di Milo

Salvo Foti of I Vigneri began his career as head winemaker at the historic Benanti estate before launching his own family project in the early 2000s. Today, Foti is widely known for his consulting work across Sicily and beyond, yet I Vigneri still flies under the radar. This remains one of the most exciting and authentic projects on Etna. Foti, with the help of his sons, manages 30 hectares of vines stretching from the north to the south slopes, producing a range of “natural” wines that blend power with purity. Among them is the Bianco Superiore Palmento Caselle, vinified in a restored palmento. While the whites—mostly sourced from Milo, where the winery is based—continue to impress, it’s the reds that often steal the spotlight. In 2023, the estate lost only 10% of its production yet opted not to bottle the Etna Rosso Viticentenarie due to unfavorable vintage conditions. Foti was also responsible for the winemaking behind Kevin Harvey’s Aeris project on Etna. However, Harvey has since chosen to sunset the brand and refocus on the Centennial Mountain site in California. The associated vineyards have now been sold.