Our Etna DOC Red Wine Symposion (Denominazione di Origine Controllata – controlled designation of origin) by Tenuta Papale is characterized by its ruby-red color with garnet reflections. The bouquet is harmonious and well-rounded, with notes of red fruits. The full-bodied and velvety taste of the Symposion, made from the grape varieties “Nerello Mascalese” and “Nerello Cappuccio,” remains on the palate for a long time after swallowing. It is particularly suitable as an accompaniment to grilled red meat as well as game.

In comparison to our Etna DOC Red Wine Lysios, the Etna DOC Red Wine Symposion is aged for 12 months in Slavonian oak barriques after fermentation in stainless steel tanks. This gives the wine its refined taste and makes it slightly spicier than the Etna Rosso DOC Lysios.
As with our other products, Etna Rosso DOC Symposion is produced in a strictly limited annual quantity, as it is not a mass-produced wine. The quantity depends on each year’s harvest. Together with the uniqueness of the volcanic lava soil, this is what defines the quality of this wine. Any possible sediment is a natural characteristic and a sign of quality.

The grape varieties Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Mascalese.

Nerello Cappuccio – Nerello Mascalese is a blend of two Sicilian grape varieties. Together, they form the backbone of quality red wines from Sicily’s eastern coast and have long been a popular choice for wines produced under the DOC Sicilia designation.
The two are essentially considered two variations of a single variety, even though the original Nerello is rarely mentioned in wine literature.
The two varieties are often cultivated side by side, especially on the volcanic soils around Mount Etna and in the plain of La Piana di Catania in the south – see the Etna wine-growing region here.

At the northeasternmost tip of Sicily, where the island comes to within just a few kilometers of mainland Italy, the two grape varieties can also be found in the hills above the port city of Messina.
Here, they are cultivated for the production of powerful yet elegant red wines, which are sold under the designation Faro DOC.

Both Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Mascalese can be produced as single-varietal wines, but they are more often blended to combine their respective strengths. Nerello Mascalese is usually the dominant component in the blend, making up around 50–60% of the Faro blend and up to 80% of the Etna blend, and is widely regarded as the superior variety of the two.
Both forms of Nerello are late-ripening, with berries that have high levels of tannins and acidity—two essential characteristics for wines intended for aging.

Nerello Mascalese has a thicker skin than Nerello Cappuccio and therefore produces wines with a higher tannin content.
Nerello Cappuccio is somewhat more elegant, with an intense, lively aroma and a clearly defined acidity.

Wines such as our Sicilian Etna Red Wine DOC Symposion, made from the two Nerello varieties, tend to develop spicy, earthy aromas that have earned them a reputation for being somewhat Burgundian in style. This is complemented by an intoxicating bouquet of red cherries and roses.

For wines made from Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Mascalese, we recommend one of our meat dishes or dough dishes.