Vini Franchetti - Passopiciaro | Italian White Wine

Vini Franchetti Passopisciaro Passobianco is a remarkable Italian white wine from the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna, produced by the visionary estate Vini Franchetti. Although the label is often referred to simply as Passopisciaro, the white wine is officially named Passobianco, a pioneering expression that helped redefine what Chardonnay can achieve on Etna.

Unlike most Etna whites made from indigenous Carricante, Passobianco is crafted from 100% Chardonnay planted by the late Andrea Franchetti on steep terraces between 850 and 1,000 metres above sea level in Contrada Guardiola. The vines thrive in loose, mineral-rich volcanic ash soils, producing a wine that combines Burgundian richness with Etna's signature salinity and freshness. The wine is typically aged for around ten months in a combination of concrete and large oak vessels, adding texture and complexity while preserving purity and precision.

Today, Passobianco is regarded as one of Sicily's most distinctive and collectible white wines, demonstrating the extraordinary potential of high-altitude Chardonnay on volcanic terroir.