Planning a trip to Italy this summer?
This is the blog series for you!
Continuing with Sicily, we’ve created this wine-friendly list of personal recommendations from the sommeliers, wine writers and wine professionals who know the region best – the Vinitaly International Academy community – a community of certified Italian Wine Ambassadors.
The Greek Theatre of Taormina overlooking the Mount Etna
Summer in Sicily is a wine lover’s sun-drenched dream. As temperatures soar, visitors flock to the island for its glorious sandy beaches and crystal-clear water. But many are also drawn by the rich and varied gastronomy shaped by thousands of years of Greeks, Arab, Norman and Spanish influence. The island is currently enjoying a major wine renaissance, so there’s no shortage of amazing wine experiences to discover, whether that’s sipping a crisp Grillo or a vibrant Etna Rosato while overlooking the sparkling turquoise sea, enjoying a lingering seafood lunch or a lively evening in vibrant towns and quaint fishing villages.
So, here are our Top 10 Tips for Wine Lovers in Sicily this Summer:
1. A wind-chilled winery near Palermo
Porta del Vento is a boutique, organic and biodynamic winery located in the hills of Camporeale (Palermo) in northwestern Sicily. The name of the winery means “gate of the wind”, a reference to the fact that the high-altitude vineyards are constantly buffeted by cold northern winds, which provide a naturally cool microclimate that mitigates the hot Sicilian sun. The winery was founded by Marco Sferlazzo (a former pharmacist turned winemaker) specifically to save nearly 50-year-old, rare indigenous vines from being uprooted by corporate developers. They are especially renowned for their work with Perricone (a rare and endangered red Sicilian grape) and Catarratto.
As recommended by Giuseppe LoCascio.
Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/porta_del_vento_winery/
2. Fine seafood in Catania
Angiò Macelleria di Mare is a renowned seafood restaurant located in Catania on Sicily’s eastern coast. The restaurant is led by a young and talented local chef, Alberto Angiolucci, and is listed in the prestigious Michelin Guide. The restaurant employs techniques more typically associated with meat, such as dry ageing, while the menu is strictly seasonal and designed to minimize waste, maximizing every single part of the local catch. The emphasis is on natural, organic and biodynamic wines, with plenty of space dedicated to artisanal Sicilian producers.
As recommended by Aleksandra Arzhakova.
Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/angiopesce/?hl=it
Photo Credit: www.albertoangiolucci.it
3. Hangout with Etna’s winemakers
Cave Ox is a renowned bar, osteria, and pizzeria located in Solicchiata, a small hamlet on the northern slopes of Mount Etna. Renowned for its phenomenal cellar featuring hundreds of artisanal and natural wines, its sourdough pizzas made with ancient Sicilian grains, and its popularity as a hangout for local Etna winemakers. Owner Sandro Dibella inherited the bar from his parents when it was a traditional village sports bar called Bar Grotta Bue, transforming it into the world-class wine mecca it is today, retaining the original name but translating it into English.
As recommended by Gill Gordon Smith
Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/sandrodibella/
4. Experience “Viaggio in Sicilia”
Planeta winery’s “Viaggio in Sicilia” experience is a two-hour immersive food and wine tour that explores the island’s history and terroir through its wines and olive oil. The guided tour takes place at various Planeta estates (such as Ulmo in Menfi, Buonivini in Noto, and on Mount Etna) and typically includes a guided tour of the vineyards and winery, a tasting of five wines from the winery, representing various Sicilian estates, a tasting of three different varieties of Planeta extra virgin olive oil, and pairing with local food and specialties. In one experience, you can travel across the island and taste the wines from different areas of the island.
As recommended by Carmelo Tripoli
Learn more: https://www.planeta.it/en/experiences/buonivini/journey-through-sicily-buonivini/
Photo Credit: www.planeta.it
5. The revolutionary wines of Marsala
The Marco De Bartoli winery is renowned for revolutionizing Sicilian winemaking, specifically by saving and elevating traditional Marsala wines and popularizing dry white wines made from the local Grillo grape. The estate operates from two main winery locations: Marsala (in western Sicily) a short drive from downtown Marsala, where you can tour the historic 18th-century baglio and cellars where the famous “perpetual” wines have aged for decades; and the volcanic island of Pantelleria to the south of Sicily where the unique low-bush vine training method is officially protected as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
As recommended by Valentina Severinova
Learn more: https://www.marcodebartoli.com/en/
6. Etna’s “Human Wines”
I Vigneri di Salvo Foti is a renowned agricultural collective and winery located in Milo on the eastern and northern slopes of Mount Etna, Sicily. The estate was at the centre of the renaissance of Etna wines and is known for its “human wine” philosophy. The winery takes its name from the ancient Sicilian Grape-Growers Guild (Maestranza dei Vigneri), founded in Catania in 1435. The winery uses ancient bush-training methods and a traditional, gravity-fed lava stone Palmento rather than modern machinery or plastic for winemaking. At altitudes of up to 1,300 meters above sea level, these are some of the highest vineyards in Europe.
As recommended by Valentina Severinova
Learn more: https://www.ivigneri.it/en/
7. Don’t forget the cannoli!
One of Sicily’s great pleasures is the pastry, and Taormina does it beautifully. Italian Wine Ambassador Pablo Fernandez’s favorite stop is Pasticceria D’Amore, just past Porta Messina. Chef Salvatore fills your cannolo to order — crisp shell, fresh ricotta — and the pistachio gelato is unforgettable. Grab one of everything and eat it in the nearby gardens.
As recommended by Pablo Fernandez
Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/pasticceria_damore/
Photo Credit: www.pasticceriadamore.it
8. A must-visit winery in southeastern Sicily
Azienda Agricola COS is located in the southeastern corner of Sicily, roughly 10 kilometers outside the town of Vittoria in the province of Ragusa. The winery is internationally famous for revolutionizing the Cerasuolo di Vittoria appellation and for being a pioneer in the biodynamic wine movement. It’s also a “must visit” for 400-liter clay amphorae sourced directly from Spain buried in its beautifully decorated cellar which allows the wine to breathe without imparting any of the flavors associated with traditional French oak barriques.
As an alternative Pianogrillo, located in Chiaramonte Gulfi, is a beautiful little organic farm producing incredible small batch wines such as Frappato and Cerasuolo, Tondi Iblea DOP olive oil and Iblea Salumi all from their own farm. They also have a wonderful bed and breakfast and small pool.
As recommended by Josje van Oostrom and Paul Perugini
Learn more: https://www.cosvittoria.it/en/ and http://pianogrillo.com/
9. Old vines on Etna
Pietradolce is a boutique winery located in Solicchiata, a hamlet of Castiglione di Sicilia on the northern slopes of Mount Etna. A must-visit destination this summer, it offers the thrill of wine tasting on an active volcano, strolls through 100-year-old pre-phylloxera vines, and modern cellar tours which are well worth adding to your schedule. Summer afternoons offer spectacular sunsets over the volcano.
As recommended by Natalie Volpe and Erica Parisi
Learn more: https://www.pietradolce.com/en/
10. Wine and nibbles in Catania
DOC Duomo of Catania is a wine bar / restaurant with an extensive wine list. Just minutes from the local fish market it offers a wide selection of local wines. Just around the corner, Bar Sapienza’s arancino are a must, while a visit to the nearby fish market is an authentic if noisy local experience!
As recommended by Bev Bourdin and Marzia Gallo
Learn more: https://duomoofcatania.it/ and https://www.instagram.com/barsapienza_1962/
Want to dive deeper into the wines of Sicily? Watch our conversation with the President of Sicilia DOC, Antonio Rallo:
Travelling to Puglia this summer? Here’s our Top 10 Tips for Wine Lovers in Puglia this Summer
The Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) community is a global network of wine professionals, educators, and enthusiasts who have completed rigorous certification programs centered exclusively on the native grape varieties, terroir, and history of Italy’s 20 wine regions.
Discover more at: https://www.instagram.com/vinitalyinternational/
Don’t forget, for the best and most up-to-date insights into Italian food, wine and travel follow the Italian Wine Podcast on social media or wherever you get your podcasts.
