Frank Cornelissen, ‘Pistemutta’ Rosso Terre Siciliane IGP 2021

• producer: Frank Cornelissen
• region: Sicily
• country: ITA
• grape variety: nerello mascalese
• production notes: certified organic, vegan, no added sulfites

If you want to be the coolest person at the natty wine party, look no further than Frank Cornelissen. Since 2001, Cornelissen has carved himself out as a leader in Sicily’s natural winemaking scene (and helped to establish Etna as its premier wine region) and he now maintains a large cult following around the world. He farms 24 hectares on the Northern valley of Mt. Etna, producing both wine and olive oil. His approach is extremely minimal, eschewing even biodynamic farming methods. 

This bottle is a collaboration between Cornelissen and Patagonia. In Cornellisen’s words: ‘Pistemutta represents the old-school winemaking on Etna of local farmers, called “contadino”. Wines with little skin contact, light bodied, fluid and elegant. This project makes me happy as it takes me back into the history of Etna, before I started producing wines here on Etna.”