Benanti is a prestigious, historic winery, recognized as a pioneer of fine wine making on the Etna volcano.
An innovative vision with the goal of producing excellent wines: this is the Benanti credo, a long-established family with Bolognese origins that boasts a centuries-old history. The Sicilian branch of the Benanti family was born in 1734, when a descendant was sent to Sicily by Vittorio Amedeo d’Aosta. At the end of the nineteenth century Giuseppe Benanti began producing wine from local Etna grapes. Since those first vintages, generations of the Benanti family have been in love with making wine on the volcano, and have transformed their passion into mastery for enhancing the peculiarities of indigenous vines in a territory that is indomitable and diverse.
In 1988, Giuseppe Benanti revived the family’s old passion, with an extensive and selective study of the Etnean soils highly devoted to viticulture. He also investigated particular clones of indigenous vines and new oenological techniques to reproduce ancient fragrances using the most modern practices of vinification, in a perfect union of history and reality. From this five year study, wines of unique taste were produced recreating old flavours and keeping them intact over time. Benanti wines have a strong personality and carry the culture and passion for wine of the Benanti family.
The research and creation of authentic wines, capable of celebrating the Etna terroir in its various expressions, have become a distinctive feature of their production.
"Benanti is one of the first successful wineries on Etna and is an important voice in the ongoing quest to map out viticultural subzones on the volcano, identifying the best and most historic vineyard sites. Today, Benanti ... has completed its conversion over to organic farming." - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Oct/2021
The Benanti family has been instrumental in Etna’s viticulture throughout history, contributing first hand to its evolution. Now managed by Giuseppe Benanti’s two sons, Antonio and Salvino Benanti, the winery has an annual production of about 250,000 bottles that are distributed throughout the most important markets worldwide.
Etna has always inspired winemakers, enthusiasts, and wine lovers. Each slope of the mountain has its own history and presents an inimitable set of soil and climatic characteristics. Through the wines of their Contrade Selection Benanti strives to express the excellence and uniqueness of each flank of the volcano, respecting centuries of human and familial vine growing and winemaking traditions. Benanti wines are elegant and refined, with distinct typicity, character and ageing potential. They only cultivate indigenous grapes and use proprietary, patented selected indigenous yeasts.