The vermouth encyclopedia

Vermutpedia

Blanco

Etna

White · Artisan · Medium-sweet

Tenuta di Aglaea Vermouth Bianco

Tenuta di Aglaea

Etna , Italia

Re-evaluation pending

How we calculate the Vermutpedia Score →

Overall impression

Vermutpedia is re-evaluating the Italian catalogue; the Vermutpedia Score for this entry remains pending until the new tasting round is complete. Tenuta di Aglaea Vermouth Bianco is an artisan vermouth from Castiglione di Sicilia (Etna). According to tenutadiaglaea.com, it is made with 100% white wine from a field blend — Carricante, Catarratto, Inzolia, Grecanico, Minella — from vineyards between 750 and 1,050 m on volcanic soils. Limited edition: around 400 bottles of 0.75 l. 17% vol., 125 g/L sugar. Organic herbs and spices with Artemisia absinthium as the main ingredient. Sibling to Rosso (Nerello Mascalese base). For Vermutpedia, it is high-altitude Etna white vermouth with rigorous traceability: volcanic soil, north-north-east exposure, alberello and espalier training, and a philosophy of estate-only wines in micro volume.

Nose and palate

After alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in steel, wine alcohol is added to 16% vol., organic cane sugar (50% brown, 50% white) and a specific Bianco infusion — water, 50% vol. alcohol and organic herbs, around fifteen days of preparation. Straw-yellow, volcanic and herbal profile per the sheet; moderate sweetness (~125 g/L) with assenzio bitterness and mineral finish. Viticulture in alberello and espalier, north-north-east exposure, density 6,000–8,000 vines/ha. Compared with continental white vermouths, the Etna field blend brings altitude freshness and volcanic mineral echo. For Vermutpedia, a coherent bianco profile where fifteen-day organic infusion and assenzio define a contemplative Sicilian mountain vermouth.

How to serve it

Tenuta di Aglaea recommends cold consumption, alone or in Etna spritz with local sparkling wine. Also in cocktails with dry gin that respects the volcanic field-blend character. Serve in a small glass or wide tumbler with moderate ice; cold enhances minerality and herbs without cloying sweetness. Light mountain Sicilian aperitivo or gentle digestif thanks to assenzio. Limited edition: best enjoyed contemplatively. For Vermutpedia, Aglaea Bianco is drunk cold — solo, Etna spritz, careful cocktails — as limited volcanic white vermouth.

Production context

Tenuta di Aglaea S.A. (Loc. Passo Cannone, Castiglione di Sicilia, CT) bottled in June 2021. Bianco: 100% white wine, organic botanical infusion, 17% vol., 125 g/L sugar, ~400 bottles. Range with Rosso (Nerello Mascalese). Terroir: porous volcanic ash with sand traces, rich in minerals. For Vermutpedia, the Bianco synthesises Aglaea artisan Etna vermouth: white field blend, limited edition, semisweet, no ageing. A piece verifiable at tenutadiaglaea.com.

Discover more

More from Tenuta di Aglaea

View all (2) →

More from Etna

Same type and style — White · Medium-sweet

Country guide

The best Italian vermouths

Birthplace of modern vermouth: we are re-evaluating the full Italian catalogue. Until the new scores are published, the table at the top remains empty.

View Italia ranking →