Benanti
Pietra Marina Etna Bianco DOC Superiore
Since the very beginning in 1988, Giuseppe Benanti has aspired to demonstrate the high potential of Carricante grown in Milo. And indeed, this wine, whose name recalls volcanic landscapes, flintstones, minerals and saline sea breezes, is now unanimously considered one of the most typical, elegant and age-worthy whites in Italy.
The vines are located in Contrada Rinazzo in the village of Milo, on the eastern slope of Mount Etna. Up to 80 years old, head-trained, short-pruned bush vines grown on small terraces with dry lava-stone wall.
- Region
- Sicily
- Appellation
- Etna Bianco DOC Superiore
- Varietal Composition
- Carricante
- Aging
- 30 months on the fine lees in stainless steel with frequent stirring, until bottling. Refined in the bottle for 12 months.
- Alcohol
- 12.5%
Pale yellow with greenish tints, this wine presents an intense and rich nose, delicate and fruity, with hints of orange blossoms and ripe apple. On the palate, it is dry and mineral, with a pleasant acidity, aromatic persistence, and a distinctive aftertaste of anise and almond.
Wine Enthusiast
97 Points
2020
"When Daedalus built the labyrinth, it was designed to keep the Minotaur in—a trap for something dangerous and powerful. But then the labyrinth he constructed was a work of such extraordinary artisanship that it became itself a subject of awe, one that exceeded the Minotaur. Benanti’s Pietra Marina makes me think of this. Something powerful and dangerous held in place by exquisitely beautiful, technically stunning architecture."
— Danielle Callegari, 2026
Decanter
95 Points
2020
"Milo is the only area where Etna Superiore can be produced, demonstrating all of Carricante's potential. An intense bouquet blooms with impressive fragrances ranging from sage to acacia, gunpowder, and a subtle citrus vein. An engaging gustatory dynamic develops on the palate, alternating sapidity and freshness towards a deep and lengthy finish."
— Alessandra Piubello, 2025
