Experience one of Italy’s most fascinating and historically rich destinations this summer: eastern Sicily. This region, dominated by the towering volcano Etna, offers visitors a unique mix of natural beauty, centuries-old traditions and extraordinary food and wine experiences. In particular, the 6 winery experiences in the Etna territory that we have identified represent a must-do adventure for lovers of good wine and local culture.
The wineries of the Etnean territory, set among breathtaking views, are not simply places of wine production, but real sanctuaries of taste and local culture. Visiting these wineries means not only tasting fine wines, but also learning the stories of the families who have been cultivating these lands with passion and dedication for decades.
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience a summer of taste and discovery: read on to discover 6 winery experiences in the Etna area that will make your vacation in Sicily truly special.
- Walking around the vineyards of Monte Gorna
- Sicily at the table and into the glass
- Sparkling wines of Etna
- Etna wines and food tasting
- Etna’s districts
- Vertical tasting of Nero d’Avola
Walking around the vineyards of Monte Gorna
One of the most evocative experiences among Etna’s wineries is a walk through the vineyards of Contrada Monte Gorna, an ancient extinct volcanic cone that is home to the vineyards of Cantine Nicosia.
Visitors can admire the unique landscape and visit the ancient lava stone palmento. The tour continues to the winery and culminates with a tasting led by an expert sommelier of five fine labels. The eno-sensory experience includes pairings with typical local products, such as Sicilian cured meats and cheeses, offering a complete immersion in the area’s food and wine culture.
Sicily at the table and into the glass
A guided tour at Cantine Nicosia offers the opportunity to explore the impressive underground cooperage and participate in a tasting of four wines representative of the different varieties and appellations produced.
The experience culminates with lunch at the winery’s Osteria, where a four-course tasting menu – appetizer, first course, main course and dessert – is prepared with the finest local ingredients. The sommelier carefully selects the paired labels to maximize the typical flavors of the ancient Sicilian culinary tradition.
Sparkling wines of Etna
The guided tour of the vineyard and its ancient palmento, offers an immersion in Etna’s winemaking tradition. After a visit to the winery and vault, where classic method sparkling wines are produced and stored, the tour continues with a tasting of Cantine Nicosia‘s Sosta tre Santi sparkling wines: Carricante, Nerello Mascalese Etna DOC Rosato and Nerello Mascalese Etna DOC.
To further enrich the experience, the sparkling wines being tasted are accompanied by homemade bread, mortadella and small food samples, for an even more complete food and wine experience.
Etna wines and food tasting
Cantine Nicosia also offers the “Etna wines and food tasting” tour with typical Sicilian flavors. A fascinating exploration of the winery and the evocative underground barrel cellar continues with a rich tasting of four Etna wines.
These wines, authentic expressions of the indigenous grape varieties of Etna DOC, enhance the extraordinary peculiarities of the volcanic terroir, such as the lava soils and altitude, which give minerality, freshness and elegance to the wines. The tasting allows you to discover the different nuances of the territory’s enological excellence, accompanied by a selection of Sicilian cured meats and cheeses.
Etna’s districts
Through this experience you can explore the authenticity of the vineyards of Contrada Monte Gorna and Monte San Nicolò with a guided tour that also includes the full tour of Cantine Nicosia.
Taste the essence of Etna’s terroir through a tasting of five wines from these two districts. The wines are accompanied by a selection of historic Sicilian PDO cured meats and cheeses and homemade seasoned bread for a typical Mediterranean experience.
Vertical tasting of Nero d’Avola
Finally, also at Cantine Nicosia, you can participate in an evocative guided tour to discover the secrets of Etna winemaking.
A vertical tasting of four historic vintages of Nero d’Avola Riserva allows you to travel through time among the different expressions of this fine wine. The experience is then enhanced by a selection of historic Sicilian PDO cured meats and cheeses and homemade seasoned bread.
On Divinea.com there are so many experiences to choose from! If you are undecided or are looking for something in particular, go to the list of all experiences to choose the one that suits you best.
