Region: Sicily, Italy (IGP Terre Siciliane / Mount Etna)
Grapes: 100% Nerello Mascalese
Body: Full
Notes: Wild marasca cherry, blood orange peel, crushed volcanic ash, damp earth, iron, dried Mediterranean herbs, and graphite, with ultra-fine, chalky tannins and a massive, mineral-driven finish
Pairing: Roasted wild boar, slow-braised lamb shanks, aged Pecorino Siciliano, seared duck breast, or continuous charcuterie boards
The Producer
Frank Cornelissen is an iconic, uncompromising titan of the natural wine world, operating along the northern slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. Arriving on Etna in 2001, the Belgian-born winemaker was captivated by the ancient, high-elevation bush vines (alberello) rooted directly in raw volcanic rock and ash. Rejecting modern industrial winemaking completely, Cornelissen views wine as an unfiltered cosmic blend of human effort, volcano, and climate. He farms without systemic chemicals, synthetic sprays, or irrigation, treating the vineyard as a living biosphere. In his cellar in Solicchiata, his zero-zero philosophy reaches absolute mastery: spontaneous native fermentations, aging in neutral epoxy-lined polyurea tanks (avoiding oak to preserve pure volcanic energy), zero filtration, zero fining, and no added sulfur dioxide whatsoever.
The Wine
The "Magma" (R32 / 2021 vintage) is Frank Cornelissen’s absolute flagship masterwork—a legendary single-vineyard, grand-cru level expression produced only in exceptional vintages. The wine comes strictly from 100+ year-old, ungrafted (piede franco) pre-phylloxera Nerello Mascalese vines in the high-elevation Contrada Barbabecchi, sitting nearly 900 meters above sea level on the northern face of Etna. The grapes are harvested extremely late by hand, fully destemmed, and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts on their skins for over 60 days. Aged patiently in neutral epoxy-lined tanks to highlight the pure, raw terroir of the volcano before being bottled zero-zero, the 2021 vintage is an absolute tour de force. It masterfully pairs an ethereal, concentrated bouquet of dark mountain berries and blood orange with a dense, iron-rich mineral core, fine-grained structural tannins, and a hauntingly long, volcanic finish.
Region: Sicily, Italy (IGP Terre Siciliane / Mount Etna)
Grapes: 100% Nerello Mascalese
Body: Full
Notes: Wild marasca cherry, blood orange peel, crushed volcanic ash, damp earth, iron, dried Mediterranean herbs, and graphite, with ultra-fine, chalky tannins and a massive, mineral-driven finish
Pairing: Roasted wild boar, slow-braised lamb shanks, aged Pecorino Siciliano, seared duck breast, or continuous charcuterie boards
The Producer
Frank Cornelissen is an iconic, uncompromising titan of the natural wine world, operating along the northern slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. Arriving on Etna in 2001, the Belgian-born winemaker was captivated by the ancient, high-elevation bush vines (alberello) rooted directly in raw volcanic rock and ash. Rejecting modern industrial winemaking completely, Cornelissen views wine as an unfiltered cosmic blend of human effort, volcano, and climate. He farms without systemic chemicals, synthetic sprays, or irrigation, treating the vineyard as a living biosphere. In his cellar in Solicchiata, his zero-zero philosophy reaches absolute mastery: spontaneous native fermentations, aging in neutral epoxy-lined polyurea tanks (avoiding oak to preserve pure volcanic energy), zero filtration, zero fining, and no added sulfur dioxide whatsoever.
The Wine
The "Magma" (R32 / 2021 vintage) is Frank Cornelissen’s absolute flagship masterwork—a legendary single-vineyard, grand-cru level expression produced only in exceptional vintages. The wine comes strictly from 100+ year-old, ungrafted (piede franco) pre-phylloxera Nerello Mascalese vines in the high-elevation Contrada Barbabecchi, sitting nearly 900 meters above sea level on the northern face of Etna. The grapes are harvested extremely late by hand, fully destemmed, and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts on their skins for over 60 days. Aged patiently in neutral epoxy-lined tanks to highlight the pure, raw terroir of the volcano before being bottled zero-zero, the 2021 vintage is an absolute tour de force. It masterfully pairs an ethereal, concentrated bouquet of dark mountain berries and blood orange with a dense, iron-rich mineral core, fine-grained structural tannins, and a hauntingly long, volcanic finish.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.