Notes & Flavors

Alta Mora is a winery from the Cusumano family where grapes are grown and harvested on the slopes of the active volcano, Mt. Etna, in Sicily.  It has been a lifelong dream for the Cusumano brothers to build a winery among these fertile and dynamic soils. The name Alta Mora translates to “Tall, Black” representing the great heights of the vineyards on the mountain and the dark, black volcanic soil. The volcano itself is nearly 11,000 feet high and vineyards are planted up to 4,000 feet.

Alta Mora Etna Bianco is comprised of the indigenous Sicilian grape, Carricante. This wine is a slight nod to Sauvignon Blanc. It is fresh, fruity with great minerality and a great classic with seafood dishes.

Color: Bright yellow

Aroma: Deep aromas of ripe apple, white flowers, lemon icing and ginger.

Taste: Spicy and rich, finishes long with nuances of minty herbs at the back. 

93 Points, James Suckling

"A very pronounced nose frames straw, dried mangoes, bread crust, passion fruit, dried pineapple and papaya. This might suggest an enormous wine, but the palate is very steely and clear-cut, the direct acidity painting an edgy picture of taut citrus fruit. A beautiful white of contrasts to drink now."

92 Points, Wine Advocate

"The Cusumano family, led by brothers Diego and Alberto, have made exceptionally clever vineyard acquisitions on Etna, picking prime growing sites in the best Contrade, thus starting Alta Mora (the winery for their Etna portfolio) as a sister brand to the Cusumano line of wines from greater Sicily. In just a few years, Alta Mora has grown in parallel to Cusumano, adding prestige and pedigree to Cusumano's important production power. Alta Mora is the proverbial tip of the family's quality pyramid. The 2018 Etna Bianco is the base white wine from this Etna estate, but this pure expression of Carricante absolutely delivers the goods. It shows super crisp and sharp lines, with citrus, white peach and crushed stone. This vintage offers a balanced burst of crisp acidity that would taste beautifully next to a summer salad with tuna, cherry tomatoes, capers and olive oil."

91 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

"A clean, classy white that's loaded with salty, citrus, lime, and mineral notes, the 2018 Etna Bianco is medium-bodied, has bright acidity, and offers good mid-palate depth as well as a great finish."