Contrada Pontale Palino extends into the territory of Solicchiata, just in front of Castiglione di Sicilia. It is certainly one of the districts with the greatest wine-growing vocation in the whole northern sector of Etna thanks to its lava soils. Just Pontale Palino suffered, in the years between 1879 and 1883, a series of eruptive episodes that characterized its morphology. Theresa Eccher was able to take possession of an ancient vineyard, located in the heart of the Contrada and reared in the traditional form of the Etna tree. A property that was planted between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, before the arrival of the phylloxera epidemic which destroyed 94% of European vineyards. A free footed vineyard, therefore, which still today shows itself proudly alive and productive, even if the quantities of grapes harvested are really very limited. On the other hand, the quality of the wines produced is excellent. Altero, Theresa Eccher’s Cru, is born here in Pontale Palino.