Sciara Centenario Etna Rosso Amphora 2022
The Wine
Centenario is undoubtedly Stef’s homage to the viticultural heritage of Mount Etna. Crafted from a tiny 0.7-hectare plot of Nerello Mascalese centenary vines in the Feudo di Mezzo Cru — pre-phylloxera material grown at 630 metres altitude.
The vineyard is completely tended by hand, with no irrigation, chemical fertilisers or pesticide treatments. The vines are all trained in the alberello style on lava terraces.
The grapes are hand-picked and fermented with indigenous yeasts, using whole clusters, without clarification or stabilisation. The élevage takes place in amphoras of different sizes and fibreglass containers for 19 months.
This is Stef’s most complex and densely layered wine, which will reward decanting and cellaring. Due to the extremely limited production of Centenario (1,339 bottles), we gladly received a small yet precious allocation to offer.
From 0.8 ha of centenarian (110–120 years old) Nerello Mascalese in Feudo di Mezzo. Fermented in amphora, then racked off and returned to amphora, where it stays for 19 months.
17.5/20 Pts Walter Spelling, jancisrobinson.com 'Youthful mid ruby. Powerful and lifted and yet, at the same time, composed. Very pure, focused raspberry with a hint of red bricks. Incredible depth yet elegant at the same time and with saline touches. Ripe acidity woven into the raspberry fruit that sits on a layer of satin-like tannins. Savoury and, at the same time, perfumed finish. Wait another year before opening this. It will be worth the wait.'
Pics 2 & 3: Our 1 on 1 dinner with Stef at the Centennial Hotel 27 July 26
The Details
Variety - Nerello Mascalese
Country - Italy
Region - Sicily
Sub Region - Etna
Extra - Cork
Year - 2022
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.
