Ep. 2749 The Many Faces of Etna: Climate, Contrade and the Art of Volcano Winemaking with Federico Graziani | Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon

Welcome to episode 2749 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 254 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc is joined by the Etna wine producer Federico Graziani. Together, they explore Federico’s journey from sommelier to winemaker, the influence of Salvo Foti, the impact of climate change on Etna, and the unique character of the volcano’s diverse contrade. They also discuss the ageability of Etna’s white wines, the expression of Nerello Mascalese, and the distinctive wines of the Feudo di Mezzo contrada. More about today’s guest: The Federico Graziani winery is located on the northern slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily, near the towns of Passopisciaro and Randazzo. The winery is famous for its high-altitude, volcanic terroir wines, most notably its iconic "Profumo di Vulcano" (a rare field blend of over 40 ancient, pre-phylloxera white and red grape varieties). The estate is also celebrated for "Mareneve," an exceptional white wine grown at a freezing altitude of 1,200 meters. The project is led by Federico Graziani, who famously transitioned from being voted Italy's Best Sommelier in 1998 to a highly acclaimed winemaker working alongside Etna legend Salvo Foti. Connect: Website: https://fedegraziani.it/en/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fedegraziani_winery/ More about the host: Marc Millon, a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador since 2021, is a celebrated expert in the world of wine, food, and travel and an award-winning author of 15 books on these topics. Since 2021, he has been the host of the ‘Wine, Food, and Travel with Marc Millon’ weekly series on the Italian Wine Podcast, which now has well over 220 episodes of the show. Marc’s latest book is “Italy in a Wineglass – the Taste of History” published by Hurst, London and Melville House, New York (Guild of Food Writers ‘Drinks Writer Award’ 2025 and the World Gourmand ‘Best Wine History Book in the World Award’ 2025). In addition to his writing and podcasting, Marc is a sought-after speaker and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy in partnership with Martin Randall Travel, a leading specialist in cultural travel. When he's not exploring the culinary landscapes of the world, Marc resides along the scenic River Exe in Devon, England. Connect: Website: https://www.quaypress.uk https://www.marcmillon.co.uk https://www.vino.co.uk https://www.quaypress.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-millon-50868624/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Marc_Millon _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mammajumboshrimp If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin! Thanks for listening! This show is all about food and wine pairings, and traveling through Italy with Marc. Join him on this food, wine and cultural journey!