Alta Mora

Terroir Summary

Etna is unlike any other wine region in Italy. Rising from the eastern coast of Sicily to more than 3,000 metres above sea level, Europe’s most active volcano has created a patchwork of vineyard sites shaped by successive lava flows over thousands of years. The defining feature of Etna is its volcanic geology. Each eruption has deposited distinct layers of lava, ash and mineral-rich material, creating soils that differ dramatically from one contrada to the next. This diversity has led many to compare Etna’s vineyard hierarchy to that of Burgundy, where small sites express unique geological identities.  At Alta Mora, vineyards are located between 600 and 1,000 metres above sea level, spanning several important contrade (contrada translates very loosely as ‘cru’, referring to specific vineyard areas), including Guardiola, Porcaria, Pietramarina and Verzella across a remarkable elevation range that brings cooler temperatures, prolonged growing seasons and exceptional diurnal variation.

Heritage

Alta Mora was established in 2013, but the project began five years earlier when the Cusumano family embarked on an extensive search for exceptional vineyard sites on Mount Etna. After studying the volcano’s complex network of contrade, brothers Diego and Alberto Cusumano acquired 15 hectares across some of the region’s most highly regarded locations, recognising Etna’s potential long before the area’s international rise to prominence. Rather than creating new vineyards, the family focused on preserving existing sites that reflected the history and diversity of Etna viticulture. Among the most significant is Guardiola, a dramatic natural amphitheatre of terraced vineyards rising from 800 to 1,000 metres above sea level, planted with old Nerello Mascalese vines and providing the inspiration for the project’s name. Alta Mora—meaning “high and black”—references both the altitude of the vineyards and the dark volcanic soils that define the landscape.

Philosophy

With the Cusumano brothers continuing the ‘vineyard-first’ philosophy they have always used in their home project, Alta Mora was built upon identifying exceptional contrade and allowing each site to express its geological and climatic identity as clearly as possible. Vineyard work focuses on preserving the health and balance of often challenging mountain sites, many of which are characterised by steep terraces, low yields and historic vine material. In the cellar, intervention is deliberately restrained. Large-format oak (or no oak at all) is favoured over heavily extractive techniques, allowing the character of the fruit and volcanic soils to remain at the forefront.

People

Alta Mora is led by brothers Diego Cusumano and Alberto Cusumano, second-generation members of one of Sicily’s most respected wine families. Having established Cusumano as one of the island’s benchmark producers, the brothers recognised Etna as a fundamentally different viticultural environment and committed significant time and resources to understanding its complexities before acquiring land on the volcano. The project combines the technical expertise and resources of the wider Cusumano team with a specialised focus on Etna’s unique growing conditions.

Beyond the Vine

This respect for place extends to the winery itself. Located in Contrada Verzella, the cellar was designed using hypogean architecture, with much of the structure built below ground to minimise its visual impact on the surrounding landscape. Natural insulation provided by volcanic rock helps regulate temperature and humidity throughout the year, reducing energy use while creating ideal conditions for wine maturation. Biomass energy and certified sustainable vineyard practices further reflect Alta Mora’s commitment to stewardship of this extraordinary environment.