Massimo Lentsch
Massimo Lentsch is a name closely linked to volcanic terroirs. After the adventure with the indigenous grape varieties of the Aeolian Islands, an experience that he conducted for 15 years at his operational base in Lipari, the Tenute di Castellaro, he embarks on a new challenge and arrives on the slopes of Etna. With a close-knit team capable of managing all aspects of work in the fields, winemaking operations, and international relations, he founded the company that bears his name in 2018: with the wines already ready, work will begin on the construction of the futuristic winery, a project completely integrated into the landscape and arranged over several underground levels.
The Massimo Lentsch winery extends over a total area of just under 6 hectares and is divided into several plots. The reference territory is that of the northern slope of the volcano: in the municipality of Randazzo, where the winery is located, the parcels of Gabelle, in contrada Calderara Sottana, Carrana, in contrada Pianodario and Pagano, in contrada Chiusa Politi are situated; in the area of Castiglione di Sicilia, in the locality of Passopisciaro, instead hosts the vineyards Cosentino and San Teodoro, in the contrada Feudo di Mezzo. The bush-trained vineyards preserve some century-old ungrafted vines of Nerello Mascalese and are rooted on slopes that offer fan-like exposures, between south, east, and towards the Alcantara valley to the north. The altitudes range from 600 to 800 meters above sea level and benefit the fruits with remarkable daily temperature excursions. The Etna soils are famous, heterogeneous and peculiar: a common volcanic matrix, brought by the flows and ashes, is blended with stony alluvial soils in the lower parts, while fine sand and rocky blocks appear in the higher areas, extremely rich in a wide variety of minerals. Only two grape varieties are present: in addition to his majesty the Nerello Mascalese, we find the typical white berry Carricante, managed according to the rules of organic and vegan certification.
The Massimo Lentsch winery is designed to conduct vinifications using only gravity, in order to avoid stressful operations through electric pumps. The grapes arrive after careful selection, harvested based on the ripening conditions of each individual plant, and the fermentations are conducted solely by indigenous yeasts in steel tanks. The macerations are prolonged for the reds, with aging in oak barrels, while the whites age in steel. No clarifications, stabilizations, or filtrations are planned.
Massimo Lentsch is a name closely linked to volcanic terroirs. After the adventure with the indigenous grape varieties of the Aeolian Islands, an experience that he conducted for 15 years at his operational base in Lipari, the Tenute di Castellaro, he embarks on a new challenge and arrives on the slopes of Etna. With a close-knit team capable of managing all aspects of work in the fields, winemaking operations, and international relations, he founded the company that bears his name in 2018: with the wines already ready, work will begin on the construction of the futuristic winery, a project completely integrated into the landscape and arranged over several underground levels.
The Massimo Lentsch winery extends over a total area of just under 6 hectares and is divided into several plots. The reference territory is that of the northern slope of the volcano: in the municipality of Randazzo, where the winery is located, the parcels of Gabelle, in contrada Calderara Sottana, Carrana, in contrada Pianodario and Pagano, in contrada Chiusa Politi are situated; in the area of Castiglione di Sicilia, in the locality of Passopisciaro, instead hosts the vineyards Cosentino and San Teodoro, in the contrada Feudo di Mezzo. The bush-trained vineyards preserve some century-old ungrafted vines of Nerello Mascalese and are rooted on slopes that offer fan-like exposures, between south, east, and towards the Alcantara valley to the north. The altitudes range from 600 to 800 meters above sea level and benefit the fruits with remarkable daily temperature excursions. The Etna soils are famous, heterogeneous and peculiar: a common volcanic matrix, brought by the flows and ashes, is blended with stony alluvial soils in the lower parts, while fine sand and rocky blocks appear in the higher areas, extremely rich in a wide variety of minerals. Only two grape varieties are present: in addition to his majesty the Nerello Mascalese, we find the typical white berry Carricante, managed according to the rules of organic and vegan certification.
The Massimo Lentsch winery is designed to conduct vinifications using only gravity, in order to avoid stressful operations through electric pumps. The grapes arrive after careful selection, harvested based on the ripening conditions of each individual plant, and the fermentations are conducted solely by indigenous yeasts in steel tanks. The macerations are prolonged for the reds, with aging in oak barrels, while the whites age in steel. No clarifications, stabilizations, or filtrations are planned.
