2023 IDDA Bianco Sicilia DOP
2023 IDDA Bianco Sicilia DOP

2023 IDDA Bianco Sicilia DOP

Gaja |Etna |Carricante
Gaja’s Etna project puts Carricante front and centre, offering a precise, quietly confident white that sidesteps the trends without compromising on intent.
Price:
$145.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship, only 1 unit left
Rendering loop-subscriptions
 More payment options

Description

"Angelo Gaja is, without question, the most famous wine producer in Italy. Possibly one of the most famous in the world. He is credited with developing techniques that revolutionised winemaking in Italy.
- International Wine Challenge

The IDDA project is Gaja’s move into Sicily - specifically Mount Etna - and like many things Gaja, it’s done on their own terms. Rather than joining the crowd on Etna’s fashionable north slope, they teamed up with local grower Alberto Graci and headed south, planting Carricante at elevation on volcanic soils near Belpasso and Biancavilla.

The 2023 is the first white made entirely at their newly built winery, sitting right within the Belpasso vineyard. Most of the fruit comes from there, with a smaller portion from Biancavilla. It’s 100% Carricante, handled simply - mainly fermented in stainless steel, with a portion in large-format oak for added texture. Some of the wine sees malo, some doesn’t, giving it shape without losing freshness.

Because Belpasso lies just outside the Etna DOC, the wine is labelled Sicilia DOP - but don’t mistake the classification for a lack of seriousness. This is a focused, quietly ambitious white with a strong sense of place, made by people who clearly believe Carricante deserves more attention.

94 points
"Crushed rocks, sesame, curry leaf, nectarine and lemon zest lead to zesty acidity and orchard fruit. Salty, spicy and mouthwatering with a long candied lime finish."
- Eric Guido (Vinous)

94 points - "The 2023 Bianco demands attention with a beguiling bouquet that mixes crushed rocks, sesame seeds and curry leaves with nectarines and lemon zest. This opens with a pretty inner sweetness contrasted by masses of salty minerals and zesty acidity as ripe orchard fruits cascade throughout. The 2023 tapers off dramatically, long and spicy. A sour citrus tinge forces the mouth to salivate as hints of candied lime and a tart Granny Smith apple concentration slowly fade. In a word, fantastic." - Eric Guido (Vinous)

Importer's Notes:

There is no question that the Gaja family has never been one to swim with the current—not simply to be seen as modernisers or to stand out from the crowd, but to challenge established norms in pursuit of producing the best wine possible.

In a region synonymous with high-quality red wine production—particularly from the northern slopes of Mount Etna, where Nerello Mascalese dominates—Gaja took a different path. They chose to purchase an existing vineyard and establish a new site on the less publicised southern slopes. All new plantings were Carricante, a white grape variety.

With 80% of current plantings on Etna devoted to Nerello Mascalese, the fact that most of IDDA production will be white wine from Carricante, and from south-facing slopes, is highly unorthodox. But so was planting Chardonnay in Barbaresco-classified sites…

100% Carricante. After harvest, a small parcel is left overnight on skins before pressing. Fermentation is split: 80% in stainless steel tank, and 20% in a mix of 1,000-litre seasoned French oak and 5,000-litre Austrian Stockinger barrels. A portion of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation. Total élevage is 8 months. Each plot is aged separately for 6 months, then blended and bottled 2 months later.

Why is it not classified as Etna Bianco DOP?

The first vineyard Gaja purchased is in Biancavilla, which lies within the Etna DOP boundaries and includes some old-vine Carricante. However, the second vineyard, in Belpasso—where the IDDA winery has been built—is also planted exclusively with Carricante but sits just outside the official Etna DOP boundary.

Because IDDA Bianco is a blend of fruit from both vineyards, it does not qualify for the Etna Bianco DOP designation. Gaja had always intended to plant in Belpasso, so the wine has been labelled Bianca Sicilia since its inception.

Price Bracket $101 and Above
Type White
Body Full Bodied
Variety Carricante
Country Italy
Region Etna
Reviewed By Vinous
Critic Score 94
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Cork

Gaja

The Gaja family has been producing wine in the hills of Barbaresco, Piedmont since 1859. But it was under the leadership of Angelo Gaja from the 1960s that the estate rose to global prominence, redefining what Italian fine wine could be. Today, his children - Gaia, Rossana, and Giovanni - are guiding the next chapter of the family legacy.

Gaja’s wines are a benchmark of modern Italian winemaking - bold, polished, and built for the long haul. Single-vineyard bottlings like Sorì Tildìn and Costa Russi broke new ground for Barbaresco, while plantings of Cabernet and Chardonnay challenged tradition and put Langhe on the world stage.

Beyond Barbaresco, the family now crafts celebrated wines from Bolgheri and Montalcino, and most recently, from the volcanic slopes of Etna under the IDDA label - a joint project with Alberto Graci that’s turning heads for its purity and poise. Wherever they go, Gaja remains a symbol of innovation, ambition, and Italian excellence.

The Gaja family Gaja

Others also liked

Recently viewed

Shipping

Delivery is free on orders of $150 or more!

For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.

We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.

Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.

Sydney (Our Vans): If no one is home and there are no special delivery instructions our driver will try to call for instructions. If the driver believes there is a safe space to leave your wine they will do so if not, they will return the item to us and hold your order until further instruction from you. 

Melbourne (Anonymous Wine Freight): If no one is home and there are no special delivery instructions, the courier will try to call for instructions. If the driver believes there is a safe space to leave your wine they will do so. if not, they will return the item to their dispatch centre and hold until further instruction from you.

Australia Post: Australia Post will leave the parcel if they have been given authority to leave and it is deemed safe to do so. To give your Authority to Leave, please enter this in the 'SPECIAL REQUEST' box at checkout.

Ordering

We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. If you see a lower price elsewhere, just get in touch and we will sort it out for you. We handle all our price-matching on a case by case basis.

Some things to keep in mind: 

  • Retrospective price-matching is available for 30 days after you have purchased from us.
  • The price match cannot be used in conjunction with a coupon or one-off deal we are offering. The idea is for you to get the best price in the market so if that is already achieved through a coupon then we won't price match on top of that.
  • We don't price match clearance or fire sales.
  • We’ll match the listed price as long as it is a legitimate offer and the competing store is actually able to fulfil the order (they have stock or more stock is en route). Essentially we won't price match cheeky vendors listing wines they have no hope of actually getting for you...
  • It must be a publicly listed price. We won't match a price that has been achieved through a coupon/cash-back arrangement, or through a non-advertised offer over the phone or otherwise.  
  • It is limited to a reasonable retail quantity.

We'll treat each price match request on its merit and reserve the right to refuse where we deem fit. For example, particularly rare wines, from non-trust-worthy vendors, in circumstances we deem illegitimate or if we feel our policy is being unfairly taken advantage of.

At the end of the day, we'll look after you and use common sense to ensure you're getting the best price, please just don't take the p%$$!

No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.

We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.

To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you. 

If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.

 

If you can't add more wine to your cart it means we are low on stock of that wine. For example, if you are only able to 3 bottles and no more that means we only have 3 bottles left of that wine. If it's a must have, please contact us and we may be able to order more in for you.

Just want to talk to someone?

Please don't ever hesitate - we would love to help! Whether it's a problem we can fix, a wine you're not 100% sure on or if you simply want to talk about wine, food and the meaning of life, we are here for you.

Call Us

02 8376 8775

Send a message

hello@differentdrop.com