# Carico (2025)

- **Producer:** Controcorrente
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Carricante, Catarratto
- **Region:** Sicilia, Italy
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €25
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** lemon, grapefruit, herbaceous, fennel, peach

## About this wine

Controcorrente was founded in 2020 by Antonino (Nino) Calì, an architect who returned to his grandfather's land on the northeastern slopes of Mount Etna, Sicily. Operating under the name Controcorrente (meaning 'Against the Current'), Calì aims to protect the local terroir from corporate wine speculation. Located in Contrada Lavina, Linguaglossa, at 550 meters elevation, the estate works with young vines planted in 2015 on sandy volcanic soils. The name 'Carico' is a playful nod to the high-yielding reputation of the Carricante grape, contrasted by Calì's low-yield, high-tension approach.

## Interesting facts

- Winemaker Nino Calì is an architect by training who abandoned his design board to express his emotions through Etna's volcanic soils.
- The name 'Carico' (Loaded) humorously plays on Carricante's historical reputation for high yields, despite this wine being light and low-yield.
- The estate produces only about 8,000 bottles annually across its entire portfolio, making this a highly limited micro-batch bottling.

## Food pairing

The high acidity and distinct volcanic salinity of this wine make it an exceptional partner for fresh seafood and light, herb-forward dishes. It cuts through the oiliness of grilled sardines and fried seafood, while its mineral core complements the briny sweetness of raw oysters and crudo.

## Wine making process

The winemaking follows a low-intervention, natural philosophy. Grapes are hand-harvested and meticulously sorted before undergoing direct pressing using a traditional vertical wooden press. Spontaneous fermentation occurs in stainless steel vats using only indigenous yeasts, without temperature control. The wine is aged in stainless steel for six months to preserve its pure volcanic character. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur added only at bottling.