Sciara 1200 metri Grenache IGT Terre Siciliane Rosso 2023
The Wine
The 1200 Metri is one of Stef’s most singular wines — second only to his Pinot Noir/Grenache blend from the highest vineyard in Europe, at 1,520 metres altitude.
This time, it’s a single vineyard in Contrada Nave, sitting above quota mille at 1,200 metres of altitude — far too high for the Etna appellation, hence the Terre Siciliane classification.
The tiny 0.6-hectare plot that Stef owns in Nave experiences an extreme diurnal range, with a difference of up to 20 degrees Celsius between day and night.
The blend is 100% Grenache Noir from old bush vines, some centenary (70 to 120+ years old), growing on the purest volcanic ash and sand. The sedimentary lava is quite fine and broken down at this altitude.
The grapes are hand-picked and fermented with indigenous yeasts. The wine is then transferred to ceramic amphora vases of different capacities for 19 months of élevage.
No fining, stabilisation or additions at any stage, aside from a splash of SO2 at bottling for stability.
In the words of Stef, this wine “truly demonstrates the characteristics of the Etna environment and its soil.” A unique take on Etna, driven by altitude and purity — or, as Stef likes to say, “let’s take it higher!”
Pics 2 & 3: Our 1 on 1 dinner with Stef at the Centennial Hotel 27 July 26
The Details
Variety - Grenache
Country - Italy
Region - Sicily
Sub Region - Etna
Extra - Cork
Year - 2023
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Founded in 2015 by Stef Yim, Azienda Agricola Sciara is one of Mount Etna’s most compelling young estates — built on altitude, instinct, and hand-farmed volcanic ground. A former Los Angeles sommelier turned winemaker, Stef arrived on Etna in 2014 and now farms nine contrade across the volcano’s northern and southern slopes, including Contrada Cielo — planted by hand in 2019 at 1,520 metres, making it Europe’s highest vineyard!
The name Sciara refers to the volcanic scoriae that mark Etna’s slopes, echoed in the estate’s labels and its philosophy: wines conceived around altitude rather than single contrada, grown on 100% volcanic soil, farmed without machinery or chemical inputs, and certified organic from 2023. In the winery, there’s no fixed method — just minimal intervention, no fining or filtration, and SO2 kept below 30mg/litre at bottling.
Micro volumes, old vines, and one of Etna’s most exacting reads on volcanic terroir.
