If there’s one experience you absolutely can not miss while visiting Sicily, it’s wine tasting on Mt. Etna! Sicily may not be the first region that comes to mind when most people think of wine tasting in Italy, but I'm here to tell you that Sicilian wine should not be overlooked - especially the unique varieties produced on Mt. Etna!
What’s so special about the wine made on Mt. Etna?
The vineyards on Mt. Etna are planted at elevations between 1000 and 4000 feet, resulting in low temperatures that create fresh wines with a lot of acidity. The wide temperature fluctuations between night and day also contribute to the fresh, aromatic flavors characteristic of Etna wines.
Mt. Etna, or Mother Etna as it is sometimes called, affects everything that grows in Eastern Sicily. Its fertile soil produces mineral-rich, distinctive wines such as the crisp and citrusy Etna Bianco, the intense and fruity Etna Rosso, or my personal favorite, the rich and full-bodied Nero d’avola. With over 180 wineries on Mt. Etna, you're sure to find at least one that you love!
When is the best time to go wine tasting on Mt. Etna?
The quick answer is that any time is a good time to drink wine in Sicily! However, if you want to combine a winery tour with your tasting experience it can be quite unbearable to walk through vineyards in the scorching heat of the Sicilian summer. This can make winter a very nice alternative, although some wineries on Mt. Etna don’t offer tours or tastings during the winter months. For this reason, I recommend that you always call ahead or book a visit online. For all the best things to do in Sicily in winter, check this out!
Spring is a beautiful time to visit Sicily in general, with pleasantly warm temperatures and blooming trees and flowers. April and May are especially nice if you can travel during the sweet spot between spring and summer school breaks. Late summer and early fall can be exciting times to visit as well, because you may find an opportunity to experience the yearly grape harvest called “vendemmia” if you’re lucky! Read about my experience here.
Do you need a reservation to go wine tasting in Sicily?
The most important advice I can give for any winery visit in Sicily is to make a reservation, as most Sicilian wineries don’t take walk-ins. You may get lucky at one of the bigger wineries, but I wouldn’t risk it. It’s a long drive up Mt. Etna just to get turned away.
There are a few reasons reservations are important. The first is that it’s considered a courtesy. I’ve found that across Italy, making reservations is a cultural nuance that is always appreciated, even if it’s not needed. I’ve walked into restaurants that are completely empty and the first thing they always ask is whether we have a reservation.
Another reason is that many wineries buy and/or prepare a lot of their food a day in advance. Therefore, they want to make sure they have the proper amount of food ready for the number of people who will be at the tasting or meal. For this reason, you should always make your reservations at LEAST 24 hours in advance, usually sooner. Especially during peak travel season, I would recommend that you book wine tastings a few weeks ahead of time.
The last reason is that Sicilian wine tastings aren’t intended for people to walk in and stand at a bar with a row of wine glasses lined up, it’s a multi-faceted experience. For wine makers in Sicily, this is their passion and livelihood, and wine tastings are intended for you to enjoy the wines while also learning about how they are made and what foods they should be paired with.
What are the best wineries to visit on Mt. Etna?
As stated earlier, there are more than 180 wineries on Mt. Etna, and I don’t profess to have been to all of them. After living in Sicily for three years, I will say that the wineries listed below are my personal favorites. They offer a variety of tasting experiences, have friendly staff and delicious wines, and are easy for English speakers to book either by phone or website.
Here are my top ten Mt. Etna wineries, grouped by location:
South slope
1. Cantine Nicosia - book online here.
* You can also book dinner reservations at Nicosia through google maps.
East slope: Milo/Zafferana area
2. Barone di Villagrande - book online here by filling out the online reservation request.
* You can also request a booking by sending an email to winetour@villagrande.it
3. Benanti - book online here.
North slope: Randazzo area
4. Pietradolce - book online here.
* You can also request a booking by sending an email to info@pietradolce.it.
5. Patria - book online here.
6. Donna Fugata - book online here.
7. Planeta Sciaranuova - book online here.
8. Palmento Costanzo - book online here by filling out the online reservation request.
North slope: Linguaglossa area
9. Emilio Sciacca - book online here.
10. Gambino - book online here.
Should you visit more than one winery?
You should absolutely try to visit more than one Etna winery if at all possible. Each winery has a different story to tell, and the unique history behind each one is sometimes the most fascinating part of a visit. Not to mention the views! Depending on how high up or on which side of Mt. Etna the winery sits, the vantage point will be different.
Mt. Etna wines are all very different as well, as each vineyard uses a unique combination of grape varieties. For example, Etna Bianco must contain a minimum of 60% Carricante grape (80% in Etna Biano Superiore), but the makeup of the remaining percentage varies by winery to create distinct blends.
The food pairings with each tasting experience will be different as well, and you’ll be treated to local specialties and traditional Sicilian dishes. Some wineries offer full brunches or dinners with wine pairings, while others offer light snacks. Regardless of whether your wine tasting is combined with a full meal or just a snack, rest assured that Italians know how to pair their wines with just the right food to complement the flavors!
How can I plan a wine tasting tour on Mt. Etna?
There are several ways you can plan the perfect wine tasting tour in Sicily! First, you should take into account whether you have your own transportation, and if so, whether everyone will be drinking. Although most wine tasting portions are small, I would never recommend drinking and driving, especially on the winding slopes of Mt. Etna with Sicilian drivers on the road! For tips on driving in Sicily, see here.
OPTION 1: Book a tour
Etna wine tours are available through Viator, Get Your Guide or local companies such as Winery Tasting Sicily or Go-Etna.
OPTION 2: Take the Etna Wine Train
One of my absolute favorite experiences on Mt. Etna was taking a wine tour on the Circumetnea train, a narrow-gauge railway constructed in the late 1800s that travels almost entirely around the mountain. The tour is organized through Strada del vino dell’Etna, an association of Etna wine makers, and can be booked through Winery Tasting Sicily or directly through the Strada del vino association.
For more information on riding the Circumetnea train, see my article here!
OPTION 3: Hire a taxi or private driver
Keep in mind there are no Ubers in Sicily, and taxis are not common in small towns. If you choose this option, you’ll need to arrange it in advance. Check with your hotel or accommodation hosts to arrange a taxi, or use an online service such as Tours by Locals.
OPTION 4: Self-guided tour
If you have your own transportation (and a designated driver), and want to plan a self-guided tour, I would try to limit yourself to two wineries in one day. Most tastings or tours last from 45 minutes to 2 hours, and there are limited booking slots available each day. You might want to plan your tastings at lunch and dinner time, and include a sightseeing stop in between. Saturdays and Sundays usually have the most flexibility with reservation times, but some of the bigger wineries have weekday bookings as well, especially during summer peak travel season.
If driving yourself, you should choose one geographic area to focus on, to limit driving time between reservations. Here are two possible route options:
East and South slope wineries + Mt. Etna
Late morning: tasting with snacks or brunch at Benanti or Barrone di Villagrande.
Afternoon: Visit Mt. Etna and take the cable car or a tour to the crater. Check this out for all the ways to see Mt. Etna.
Evening: tasting and dinner at Cantine Nicosia
North slope wineries + Randazzo
Morning: explore Randazzo, the highest town on Mt. Etna with beautiful views and a medieval history. Visit a church almost entirely built out of lava stone, sample gelato or granita at the famous Pasticceria Santo Musumeci, or learn about the history of Sicily's puppet opera at the Museo dell'Opera dei Pupi di Randazzo. Everything in the town will close down around 1:00 for riposo (mid-day rest), so arrive early.
Afternoon: tasting with lunch or snacks at a Randazzo area winery.
Evening: tasting with snacks or dinner at a Randazzo or Linguaglossa area winery.
The Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta is built almost entirely out of lava stone!
If you can picture yourself sitting in a historic winery with a glass of Sicilian wine in your hand as you look out over the slopes of Mt. Etna, what are you waiting for? Start booking your trip to Sicily now!
If you enjoyed this, drop me a comment below! Check out some of the other articles on my European Destinations page or read more about my Sicilian adventures below!
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