Controcorrente is a small Etna project created by Antonino “Nino” Calì on family land near Linguaglossa. The name translates as “against the current” and reflects Nino’s independent way of working, with each wine approached on its own terms rather than through a fixed recipe.

Production remains small and personal, with the range showing several sides of Etna through sparkling, skin-contact and red wines. The common thread is a direct, energetic style shaped by local grapes and the volcanic landscape.

Fermentations start naturally with native yeasts, and the grapes are generally destemmed before fermentation. Stainless steel is the main vessel, while concrete and neutral barrels are used where they suit the character of a particular wine.

The wines are bottled without fining or filtration, with sulphites either avoided or kept to small additions at bottling. The cellar approach stays flexible and restrained, allowing each cuvée to develop in its own way rather than forcing the range into one style.