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Benanti: Comparing Carricante sites and lees maturation
This is a producer in Etna, Sicily, working with indigenous varieties and wines from different slopes. Since 1988, they have pursued the potential of Carricante and make a white called Pietramarina from their Milo vineyard.
Compare the vineyards, stainless steel usage, and time on lees for Etna Bianco and Pietramarina. Confirm how wines from the same grape are made differently.
Questions for this course
Are all age-worthy whites necessarily barrel-aged?
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To explanation task notes ↓Benanti / Learn from Producers
Italy / Sicily / Etna
Synonym/Label: Benanti Viticoltori
Update date: 2026-09-24
The common point is Carricante 100%.
Both wines are made from 100% Carricante. Etna Bianco uses grapes from vineyards on the east and south sides, while Pietramarina uses grapes from the Contrada Rinazzo on the eastern slope of Milo. Even from the same producer and grape variety, the geographical range of the grapes differs.
A vineyard that cannot be matched by altitude alone
The vineyards for Etna Bianco are at 700–950 meters, while Pietramarina is at about 800 meters. While altitudes overlap, the latter is a terraced vineyard facing east, with some vines over 90 years old. The altitude figure alone does not indicate the same growing conditions.
Long maturation even in stainless steel
Pietramarina is fermented in stainless steel and aged for about 30 months on fine lees, then spends a further 12 months in bottle. Bâtonnage (lees stirring) is also practiced. Do not equate long maturation with the use of wood barrels; record vessel and lees contact separately.
Distinguish between yeast and time
The description for both products mentions yeast selected by Benanti from local vineyards. Yeast being locally derived does not necessarily mean spontaneous fermentation. Bottle ageing for Etna Bianco is 2–3 months, while the time spent on lees in stainless steel is not given as a specific number of months.
What to align and what to compare.
Raw material
- Conditions to standardize
- Carricante 100%
- Conditions for comparison.
- Vineyards of the east and south and plots of Milo
- Additional points to confirm
- Check factors besides altitude
Vessel
- Conditions to standardize
- Fermentation in stainless steel
- Conditions for comparison.
- Lees contact time & bottle maturation.
- Additional points to confirm
- Do not equate long aging with barrel use.
Yeast
- Conditions to standardize
- Locally selected yeast
- Conditions for comparison.
- Origin and usage method
- Additional points to confirm
- Distinguish between local origins and spontaneous fermentation
Order of reading and key points to consider in each article
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READ · HYPOTHESIZE · RECONSIDER
Interpreting Benanti’s materials: Comparing Carricante sites and lees maturation
Verify the ingredients and processes in the materials and consider reasons for differences.
The numbers are based on documentation from the indicated year, or the product description at the time of confirmation. Descriptions without a vintage do not guarantee specifications for all vintages.
| Comparison items | Etna Bianco | Pietramarina |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | Carricante on the east-south slopes | Carricante of Milo |
| Fermentation vessel | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Aging on the lees | Stainless steel, duration not specified | About 30 months in stainless steel |
| Matured in bottle. | 2–3 months | 12 months |
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Read the explanation for each question
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What vessel and with lees does Pietramarina mature?
According to the official explanation, the wine spends about 30 months on fine lees in stainless steel. Information about long maturation does not automatically mean oak barrels were used.
What can be said about the vineyard for both wines?
Etna Bianco comes from multiple slopes; Pietramarina is a plot in Milo. Do not erase differences in slope and vine age by just equating altitudes.
What is yeast selected from local vineyards?
Local origin refers to the origin of the microorganism. Distinguish between selecting and using yeast and starting fermentation without inoculation; confirm with actual production methods.
Basis and sources for the exercise
Practice exercises in comparison
Compare the raw materials and processes in the documentation, and explain the choices made by the producer.
Read examples of organizing comparisons
| Conditions for Comparison | Etna Bianco | Pietramarina |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | Carricante on the east-south slopes | Carricante of Milo |
| Fermentation vessel | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Aging on the lees | Stainless steel, duration not specified | About 30 months in stainless steel |
| Matured in bottle. | 2–3 months | 12 months |
Sources of materials used for comparison are listed in the text and exercises.
Explain in your own words
Please break down Pietramarina’s extended maturation into three aspects—vessel, lees, and bottle—and note any differences in vineyard when comparing it to Etna Bianco.
Check after writing
- Was the scope of the raw material differentiated?
- Are you not estimating unrecorded periods?
- Did you distinguish between the origin of the yeast and the fermentation method?
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