Event
Winemaker Tasting: Etna with a Burgundian Accent
October 30, 2026
Join us at Manhattan Wine Company for an evening with Ciro Biondi, a tiny family estate on the southeast slope of Mount Etna, where the wines drink with real Burgundian poise.
Friday, October 30th, 5:30 to 7:00 PM
Manhattan Wine Company, 540 W 28th Street #1, New York
When importer Oliver McCrum told me Ciro Biondi was coming to town, I jumped at the chance to host this wonderful bon vivant. I have been pouring these wines since my days at Maialino and Marta, and I've always loved them for their elegance and aromatic nuance. Ciro's wines are not in your face; they are reserved and showcase the terroir of Mt. Etna's southern slopes.
The Biondi family has farmed Etna since at least 1800, and Ciro, an architect by training, and his wife Stef founded the modern winery in 1999. Their three terraced vineyards sit around 640 meters near Trecastagni, farmed organically on volcanic sand. Most face east, catching the morning sun and staying cooler through the afternoon, and that aspect shows in the wines: bright acidity, restraint, and lift over weight.
This is a very small operation. Together, the four wines we pour total just 21,000 bottles a year (only 1,750 cases!), spread across the world.
The Details
Date: Friday, October 30th
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: Manhattan Wine Company, 540 W 28th Street #1
Cost: Complimentary
Please note: this is a 21+ event. No pets allowed, with the exception of registered service animals.
The Wines
2025 Outis Bianco @ $39/btl: Carricante from east-facing vines, fermented and aged in stainless steel.
2022 Pianta Bianco @ $69/btl: A single east-facing vineyard on an old crater. Ciro ferments and ages in neutral oak, a technique embraced from his time in Burgundy.
2025 Outis Rosso @ $48/btl: Nerello Mascalese with 20% Nerello Cappuccio, from east and southwest-facing vines.
2022 Cisterna Fuori Rosso @ $72/btl: East-facing, 1980-planted vines on a steep crater terrace dating to 125 BC. Just 2,000 bottles produced annually.
Space is limited, so please reply to reserve your spot or click the link below.
RSVP
We look forward to seeing you!