Citrange Mandarino is a Sicilian herbal liqueur associated with the Pietradolce selection, using Sicilian mandarin and wild island herbs. It brings a rounded citrus fragrance into an amaro's bittersweet frame. This is an inviting alternative to the usual after-dinner bottle, with plenty of scope for a personal twist on aperitivo cocktails.
- Aromas: Mandarin peel gives a fragrant citrus lead, with herbal notes adding depth and a savoury counterpoint to the fruit.
- Palate: Rounded citrus flavour is balanced by sweetness and a bitter finish. A very cold serving highlights the aromatic fruit while keeping the small pour refreshing.
- Style: A mandarin-led Sicilian amaro at 30% alcohol, with a bittersweet, aromatic character suited to both sipping and cocktail use.
- Winemaking: Citrus peels are infused with wild Sicilian herbs, alcohol and sugar. The maker's approach puts the mandarin character at the centre, using herbal bitterness to build a balanced liqueur.
- Cellaring: No further bottle ageing is needed. Store upright, tightly sealed, away from heat and direct sunlight; the aim is to preserve the existing aromas rather than develop them.
- Food Pairing: A small pour after dinner, dark chocolate or almond biscuits; for an aperitivo, pair a soda-based serve with olives and other salty snacks.
If mandarin is your favourite citrus, this is a lovely bottle to explore. Serve it very cold, pour it over ice or give your spritz a new flavour. Citrange Mandarino adds a little Sicilian character to the drinks shelf and makes a thoughtful gift for an aperitivo enthusiast. Use small pours and experiment with ice or soda to find the balance of citrus and bitterness you enjoy.
Pietradolce
High on the slopes of Mount Etna, Pietradolce is the Faro family’s tribute to Sicily’s volcanic landscape. Established in 2005 and based at Solicchiata, the estate combines a modern cellar with vineyards whose history reaches much further back. Nerello Mascalese is the central red grape, while Carricante shapes the whites. Northern-slope parcels sit at elevations of roughly 650 to 950 metres, and the estate also works an eastern site near Milo, bringing different aspects of Etna into the collection.
Old bush-trained vines are a defining attraction, including remarkable pre-phylloxera parcels that connect today’s wines with the mountain’s viticultural past. The family explores individual contrade, or vineyard districts, allowing small differences of place to emerge. Vigna Barbagalli is a particularly distinctive red, while Archineri offers another route into the estate’s old-vine character. These are wines whose appeal rests on perfume, freshness and structure, rather than a simple image of warm-climate Sicily. For wine lovers fascinated by origin, Pietradolce offers an expressive introduction to Etna’s altitude, ancient vines and deeply individual vineyard landscape.
