We are a new Etna DOC-registered and certified winery.  We found the century old vineyard and modest winery in 2021.  After taking much care of our delicate, but strong vines, we produced our first vintage of wines which we released in the fall of 2023.  Two world-class wines right out of the gate!

We have had an incredible head start: 70-100+ year old, ungrafted, pre-phylloxera, Nerello Mascalese and other indignious varieties including Carricante vines, 850-900 meters high on Mt. Etna in the Panella Petto Dragone Contrada, the Romeo family whose passion created this vineyard before us, our mentor, Benjamin Spencer, and our many new friends from Mt. Etna and the incredible town of Linguaglossa who have shown us a thing or two.

Grazie, Tutti!

About us

What people are saying…

  • An interesting new project situated at 850-900m above sea level in the Panella-Petto Dragone contrada in Linguaglossa, on Etna’s north slope is Blindspot Vineyard, founded by Matt & Carolyn Burghoff. This 2022 is the first vintage, just 700 bottles of field-blend Nerello Mascalese & other local varieties vinified in stainless steel and aged in amphora. Super bright & juicy, it features fragrant sour cherry & promegranate, with cleansing acidity & fine tannins. A positive first step, this is one to follow
    — James Button Decanter Magazine

  • In the summer of 2021, Matt Burghoff opened a bottle of Etna Rosso that changed his life. It was so delicious that that autumn he flew to the mountain & bought a small farm on the north-east slope in Contrada Panella-Petto Dragone, which extends from 850-900 meters above sea level. Today, Punto Cieco (www.blindspotvineyard.com) produces an extremely limited quanity of elegant Etna Rosso from old vines and new plantings of Etna’s traditional white grapes. As the name suggests, you may not be able to see the estate from the road, but the Wines are worth seeking out
    — Benjamin North Spencer The New Wines of Mt. Etna

  • Organic, minimally processed, hand-harvested, 90% field-blended Nerello Mascalese (prized for its ability to express a soil’s character) + 10% other indigenous Etna varietals aged in oak, steel, & amphora result in a wine with fresh acidity, brightness, a slight flinty minerality and just enough softness from the oak to round things out. Light-bodied and full of red fruit, with nudges of dried herbs, cinnamon bark and light smoke, it’s elegant and crisp with soft tannins and a nuanced and layered finish.

    Yum.

    This is one of those wines that made my heart flutter, and really – isn’t that the effect that you want wine to have?
    — Alana Lapierre Wine Writer

  • Vino Bianco 2023

    A beautiful expression of 100% Carricante. Raised in stainless steel for 9 months with 6 months on the lees and batonnage occurring twice a month. Textured in the mouth, but with a brightness on the palate that gives way to flavors of meyer lemon and yellow apple, notes of tarragon and anise, and a long, saline finish.

    A great bottle to appreciate the nuances of this Grape.

    Vino Rosso 2023

    A blend of 90% Nerello Mascalese, 5% Nerello Cappuccio, and 5% Carricante with aging taking place in a terra cotta vessel. In the glass, it shows a dark ruby color with aromas of violets, sage, black cherry and plum. A great insight in showing how both Nerellos work together in harmony.

    Excellent approachability and drinkability now.

    — Greg Spaudling - Court of Master Sommeliers Chicago

Matt Burghoff

FINDER & FIRST BELIEVER

Carolyn Burghoff

CONFIRMER-IN-CHIEF

Ben Spencer

WINE SHERPA, DipWset

Andrew Burghoff

HORTICULTURALIST &
CONSIGLIERE

Meet the team!