Passopisciaro is sited on the north side of the live volcano, Mount Etna, planted at 1000m above sea level. The contrade wines are essentially the estates single crus, all with unique soil composiotion, borne of individual lava flows. Andrea Franchetti cleared and restored long-abandoned terraces of ancient vines on the northern slopes of the mountain, replanting where required, on thin lava dust. The indigenous Nerello Mascalese is ill-disciplined can produce rustic, heady wines but Andrea is rigorous in restoring order with strict pruning and selection. This, allied to high altitudes and high density, makes for a very different, elegant and balanced style with an emphatic sense of place. Rampante “R” is the highest of the contrade. The vines are over 100 years old. Rampante has a fine sandy lava making for wines with great finesse