Four vintages of the same white wine—2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024—tasted side by side, paired with a menu selected by Chef Roberto Aste.

Brunek – Rifugio dell’Etna · Northern Etna · Reading time: 6 min

There are evenings when wine does more than simply accompany a meal: it becomes a way to interpret the territory, the passage of time, and its transformations.

On Saturday, August 22, at 8:00 p.m., Brunek – Rifugio dell’Etna will host a vertical tasting of white wines, organized in collaboration with Cuore di Marchesa.

At the heart of the experience will be four vintages of the same white wine—2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024—tasted side by side. This tasting is designed to explore how the same wine can express itself differently over time and to deepen an understanding of wine culture through tasting, comparison, and curiosity.

Rounding out the evening will be a menu curated by Chef Roberto Aste, crafted to complement the featured wines. Because at Brunek, the glass and the plate are not two separate moments, but parts of the same experience: a story of flavor that finds its natural setting on Mount Etna.

A journey through time across four vintages

2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. Four dates that, in a vertical tasting, become four vantage points for observing the same wine.

The appeal of this type of tasting stems precisely from the opportunity to compare what remains recognizable with what, on the other hand, changes. Wine is a product in constant evolution: the vintage and the time spent in the bottle can help alter its expression in the glass.

Tasting the four vintages in succession therefore allows you to focus on the differences, recognize continuity and variations, and build a more informed experience. You don’t need to be an expert or a sommelier: a vertical tasting can also be an exercise in mindfulness, an invitation to slow down and make room for your own perceptions.

This is one of the most fascinating aspects of the Brunek evening: not simply searching for “the best wine,” but discovering four interpretations of time through the same white wine.

What Is a Vertical Tasting and Why Is It So Special

A vertical tasting involves tasting different vintages of the same wine. Unlike a tasting where different labels, producers, or styles are compared, here the point of reference remains the same, and what changes above all is time.

This allows you to observe the wine’s evolution and pay attention to elements such as aromas, balance, freshness, structure, and length, without necessarily turning the tasting into a technical lesson.

The value of a vertical tasting lies precisely in the comparison. A glass of wine takes on a new perspective when tasted alongside a glass from the previous or subsequent vintage. The differences may be more obvious or more subtle, but it is in the transition from one vintage to another that the tasting becomes a story.

For wine lovers, it’s an opportunity to deepen their knowledge. For those experiencing this type of event for the first time, it’s an intuitive and engaging way to understand how much a bottle can reveal—far more than what’s apparent at the first sip.

Cuore di Marchesa and Its Connection to the Etna Region

The collaboration with Cuore di Marchesa brings to the forefront of the evening a winery deeply rooted in the Etna region. The estate is run by the Di Giovanni-Di Marco family, and its vineyards span four hectares in Solicchiata, a hamlet of Castiglione di Sicilia, on the northern slope of Mount Etna.

This geographical and cultural proximity makes the pairing with Brunek particularly natural. The wine is born in a landscape shaped by the volcano and is tasted in a place that, in turn, experiences its daily connection with Mount Etna.

The evening thus also becomes an opportunity to explore the culture of Etna wine: not only through what is poured into the glass, but through the stories, people, and places behind each bottle.

Wine Meets Chef Roberto Aste’s Cuisine

A tasting can be completely transformed when the wine meets the right dish. That’s why the evening’s menu, selected and crafted by Chef Roberto Aste, is not merely an accompaniment to the four vintages, but an essential part of the experience.

The goal of the pairing is to create a dialogue: the dish can highlight a nuance in the wine, complement its balance, or offer a contrast that makes the tasting even more interesting. Similarly, the wine can alter the perception of a course and bring out different aspects of the ingredients.

It is through this interplay that the tasting of wine and cuisine transforms into a true food-and-wine experience.

Brunek’s culinary offering stems from a deep connection to Mount Etna and Sicily, through carefully selected ingredients and a cuisine that draws from the local terroir to create diverse experiences—ranging from quick, simple dishes to more labor-intensive, meticulously crafted creations.

For the evening of August 22, wine and cuisine will therefore follow the same thread: observe, taste, and connect. A journey in which every element on the table contributes to the discovery of the next glass.

An evening on the volcano featuring wine, cuisine, and the local region

Il Brunek is located in the Ragabo Pine Forest, on the northern slope of Mount Etna, along the Strada Mareneve in Linguaglossa. A retreat nestled within the volcanic landscape, where nature and hospitality come together.

Here, the setting is more than just a backdrop. The forest, the mountain air, and the presence of Mount Etna all contribute to the evening’s atmosphere and accompany a journey entirely dedicated to flavor.

Against this backdrop, a wine tasting on Mount Etna becomes an opportunity to take time for discovery and camaraderie. An evening to be savored without haste, following the rhythm of the four vintages and the courses designed to pair with them.

This, too, is the essence of a food-and-wine experience on the volcano: bringing together wine, cuisine, and the local landscape so that each element helps you better understand and appreciate the others.

Information and Reservations

The vertical tasting of white wines will take place on Saturday, August 22, at 8:00 p.m. at Brunek – Rifugio dell’Etna.

During the evening, four vintages of the same Cuore di Marchesa white wine will be tasted:

The tasting will be accompanied by a menu curated by Chef Roberto Aste.

Four vintages, four distinct moments, and a single evening to discover them together. An invitation to take a seat at the table, let the tasting guide you, and experience Mount Etna through wine and cuisine.

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