Island Wines
by Tom Wolf
2024 Etna Rosato “Sciare Vive”
Italy | Sicily
If I could have one wine wish granted in 2026, I would wish for more growers to experiment with cuvées that blur the line between red and rosé. Tavel is the epicenter for this style, but producers in other regions have discovered how beguiling that line can be. This rendition comes from the northern face of Mount Etna, and my only regret about it is that Vigneti Vecchio sent us only a few cases. Vibrant and full of the volcanic minerality we love in Vigneti Vecchio’s reds, this dark-hued rosato could only come from one place.
2024 Vermentino Isola dei Nuraghi “Fria”
Italy | Sardinia
At a unique meeting point of coastal and rugged inland terroirs near the northern end of Sardinia, Carlo Deperu and his wife, Tatiana Holler, are crafting some incredibly lively and honest wines that blend the best of both worlds. Mixing stone fruit with sea spray, this crisp Vermentino is the bottle you should reach for the next time you make linguine with clams or fish tacos.
2022 Corse Figari Rouge “Alta Rocca”
France | Corsica
No family has done more to put southern Corsica on the map in recent years than the Canarelli clan. They’ve opened first-rate restaurants and lodging, but the family’s crowning achievement is Clos Canarelli. Having taken the reins of this family domaine in the early 1990s, Yves Canarelli embraced native grape varieties and biodynamic farming in a notoriously arid and windswept region, where grape growing is far from straightforward. But he didn’t stop there. Over the last three decades, he has constantly experimented with his practices to get the best from his extreme terroir. Most recently, Yves has been working even more wonders with the Sciaccarellu grape, coaxing out of it incredible aromatics and finesse. In Alta Rocca, his top cuvée of pure Sciaccarellu, you’ll find a noble red full of herbs, ripe berries, and spice. Don’t miss one of Corsica’s grandest wines!