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Frank Cornelissen heads the Belgian New Wine Movement in italy. While visiting Sicily he tasted Calabretta wine and wanted to make a greater wine. In 2011 he experienced the techniques of Marc de Grazia (of La Chiusa) and total quality wine. Then when Etna started taking off there was a gold-rush moment. Etna held the potential and the northern slopes held the quality output title. He wanted the wine to be organic which he found easy using the natural processes practiced on Mount Etna.
As a Sicilian wine producer, his vineyard, Azienda Agricola Frank Cornelissen prefers to produce under the Terre Siciliane IGT designation rather than the technically restrictive Etna DOC appellation. The property covers 25 hectares, six vineyards, 25+ staff and is constructed on hand crafted scree terraces at 500 to 1,000 metres altitude above sea level. The vineyard is organic certified practicing more than most organic and biodynamic certifications require. Many vines are old and some vines are ungrafted. Yields are low, and grapes harvested relatively late to capture perfect phenolic ripeness. Wines are gently pressed and stored in neutral vessels. Cornelissen is notable for his natural wine processes and policy of not adding any sulphur. The wines destined for early bottling go into epoxy coated tanks and some into epoxy coated terracotta vessels. The Munjabel wine we represent expresses the estate philosophy - organic certified, tiny yields, pied de cuvée based ferment, neutral vessels, and all grown on free-draining volcanic grit at altitude. Az. Agr. Frank Cornelissen Via Canonico Zumbo 1 Passopiaciaro, Castiglione di Sicilia, Catania, Italy |
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