Highlights of Sicily Wine Tour

Palermo is a fascinating city with a remarkable history that will enchant you immediately upon your arrival. Sitting at the center of the crossroads of Mediterranean civilizations for millennia, Palermo glows with a mixture of vibrant daily life that abounds through Byzantine mosaics, Arabesque domes, and fabulous frescoes. The aromas of delicate seafood drift through the doors of classic kitchens while street vendors proliferate the scents of freshly grilled meats, fried rice balls known as arancini, and fragrant pistachios. Your private transfer will greet you at Falcone Borsellino Airport and escort you into the heart of the bustling city where you can settle into the comforts of your luxury hotel. Your guide will meet you in the lobby ready to introduce you to the splendors of the city the Norman’s once called, “Kingdom of the Sun.”

Discover the beauty of Palermo by visiting the Cappella Palatina and the famous Cathedral. You will see the famous Teatro Massimo and enter the incredible ambiance of the Norman Palace. The complex dates back to the 9th century AD and has since become the home of the islands’ regional parliament. Your guide will offer a history of the palace, the royal apartments, and the spectacular mosaics that cover Sala dei Venti and Sala di Ruggero II. The latter room glints with incredible hunting scenes and wild animals favored at the time which offers a window into the artistic fashion and prominent symbolism of the time.

In the morning, your guide will greet you in the hotel lobby ready to whisk you to the charming seaside town of Cefalù. The picturesque setting acted as the backdrop to the 1990 Oscar-winning Foreign Language Film, Cinema Paradiso. The alluring ambiance stems from the bright azure waters that lap against the marina and reflect the colorful wading fishing boats and honey-hued stone buildings that line the promenade. You will follow your guide through the winding medieval streets for an immersive tour that will showcase the natural beauty of the water, the drama of the massive rocky promontory, and the distinctive medieval laundry at the heart of the historic city. A series of unique steps made of lava stone will lead you beneath the archways to a collection of pools with water spilling from 22 spigots.

Your guide will then lead you through the elegance of the mosaics that glisten in the central cathedral and the golden-sands that shimmer on the beach. You will also venture to the top of the rocky peak to see the fascinating megalithic Temple of Diana, one of the oldest religious centers in the whole of Europe, which dates back to the 9th century BC. You will see how the unique design of the temple consisted of interlocking dry stones instead of using mortar.

In the morning, the bustling sounds of the Ballarò Market fill the streets of Palermo and snakes around the lanes and alleys that lead east from the Norman Palace. The scent of oranges fades beneath the aromas of truffles, olives, and cheeses. Locals ask for samples from the vendors before passing tables brimming with swordfish and prawns, mussels, and clams.

Your private transfer will meet you in your hotel after breakfast and escort you away from the lively streets of Palermo for your first wine tour in Sicily around the Vallelunga province. The landscape shimmers with verdant vineyards and blossoming wildflowers, and you will enjoy the tour through the gorgeous landscape as you stroll alongside your guide through the vines where you can feel the waxy texture of grapes growing in the shade of the leaves.

Instead of the tasting room, your exclusive tour will take you into the kitchen where the local chef will help you to prepare a five-course meal that will be paired with a selection of wines cultivated on the property. The aromas of olives, garlic, eggplant, basil, and fennel will fill the kitchen and reflect many of the local ingredients used in daily cooking. The wines will balance and accentuate the best flavors of the cuisine finding robust tastes in dishes like Pasta con le Sarde and orange salad. You can sip a glass wine with 73 percent Inzolia grapes and 27 percent of a Sauvignon grape grown on the property resulting in scents of apple, peach, and jasmine with a fruit-forward flavor leaving an alluring, lingering finish.

You will travel next to the nearby seaside town of Mondello and bask in the alluring white sands and electric blue waters that glisten beneath the architectural treasures that overlook the shoreline. You will then step aboard a sailboat for a luxurious tour of Sicily’s famous coast that will take you onto the water and away from the epic 2,296-foot tall mountain crag of Montepellegrino that separates Mondello from Palermo. The sea breeze carries a sweet and briny aroma as it brushes salt onto your cheeks, and you can look back at the promenade to see the colorful facades of the restaurants and cafes shining brightly above the pristine white sands and shading umbrellas.

Return to Mondello for an elaborate seafood lunch with the clean and crisp flavors of fresh octopus, calamari, clams, and grouper. Your lunch will pair the delicious flavors of each dish with a perfect local wine that will highlight the beauty of the cuisine and the views over the glistening water.

After lunch, you will continue to a boutique winery for a sample of spectacular wines grown near the historic cathedral of Monreale. The unique landscape brings intense and diverse flavors for varietals grown on the various estates. Your guide will lead you into the tasting room with a brief introduction on the property before explaining the depth of the selection of wines offered by the vineyard. You will sample a sensational brut made from Pinot Nero and Chardonnay defined by notes of yellow citrus, almond, and pineapple giving way to a pleasant citrus flavor.

You will leave the comforts and charms of Palermo behind and venture next to the exceptional history on display in the ancient archeological park of Segesta with your private guide. The stunning Greek settlement on the island dates back to the 5th century and depicts one of the finest remaining examples of Doric architectural design in the world. The 36 massive Doric columns of the Temple will captivate you, accompanied by the impressive Greek theater, which possesses a diameter of over 203 feet. During the summer months, the theater once again comes to life with Greek plays and concerts entertaining audiences against a backdrop of the rural countryside.

You will continue to Mazara, a town resembling a North African Kasbah instead of an Italian city. Narrow lanes wind through the historical quarter to create an elaborate labyrinth that is interspersed with magnificent Baroque architecture and Norman designs. You can spend time wandering through town at your preferred pace and linger in the elegant ambiance of Piazza Della Republica that is bordered by the stunning facades of the 18th-century Seminario dei Chierici and the Catedral del San Salvatore. You can also wander through lanes at the heart of the former Saracen city along Via Bagno, where you will find antique public baths and vendors making the neighborhood feel similar to a vibrant souk.

After breakfast, your day will begin with a private wine tasting tour of celebrated local estates known for producing captivating wines that harness the true flavors of the Sicilian landscape. You will start at one of Sicily’s leading wineries to find a mixture of delicious varietals and a selection of premier olive oils. Your guide will lead you through the vineyard on an exceptional tour that will highlight the history of the vineyard and the heritage of the grapes in Sicily before you reach the tasting room. The selection of wines you will taste will accentuate the splendor of Sicily and feature white wines with grapefruit, lemon zest, and limestone aromas, and red wines that boast scents of leather, clove, and plum.

In the afternoon, you will continue your discovery of Sicily’s captivating charms at the Valley of the Temples outside of the modern city of Agrigento. The enthralling preserved archeological city retains a variety of temples including the Tempio della Concordia, which stands atop a hill once serving as a signal for incoming sailors. You will notice an herbaceous aroma drift from the nettles of an 800-year-old olive tree as you traverse the trail leading to the Temple of Concord. The structure was built in the 5th century BC and has survived battles, earthquakes, and inclement weather for over two millennia. Your guide will provide fascinating insight into the history of the region, as well as the unique elements of the temple such as the paralleling 13 columns.

You will enjoy an early wine tour taking you into the gorgeous landscape around Mazara del Vallo. Your guide will escort you into the countryside to discover why many locals refer to the region as the “balcony of the Mediterranean,” referring to the belvedere offering views across the glowing sea. The intimate connection to fishing and wine is accentuated by the warm hospitality you will receive at each family-owned property you visit. The sustainable processes of the first vineyard you tour brings about the art of winemaking passed down through the generations. You will sample a fabulous selection of organic wines including some rosès and sparkling wines possessing aromas of herbaceous jasmine, sweet elderberry, and refreshing citrus.

You will return to your luxurious hotel in the early afternoon for a relaxing spa treatment that displays the opulence of Sicily with fantastic treatments that will allow you to indulge and refresh in private with exclusive attention. You can enjoy a salt treatment using marine salt or lounge in the warm waters of a soothing bath. Allow your muscles to rejuvenate during a sensational massage accentuated by the aromatics of an orange citrus shower paying attention to the elegant art of self-care and the luxurious skill required.

You will make your way with your private transfer towards the outer borders of Marsala and visit a selection of vineyards and wineries that will highlight the special characteristics of the region’s famous wines, as well as wines often overlooked for the more famous varietals from the province. Enjoy your exclusive tour of a vineyard that is producing eclectic wines with forward-thinking ideas while paying homage to tradition. Your guide will explain some of the diverse aging techniques of the winery, as well as provide information on the grape varietals and soils in the area before you enter the tasting room. You will sample a variety of wines including a white wine possessing aromas such as peach with hints of evergreen shrubs. After reveling in the distinctive properties of the wines grown around Marsala, your private driver will escort you back to the vibrant ambiance of Palermo.

In the morning, the markets in Palermo can offer a glimpse into the history of the city and the greater island of Sicily as locals continue to shop for their daily ingredients undeterred by the advancement of modern conveniences. Vendors add color and texture to each morning as they call out to passersby and sing when not engaging with customers. After breakfast and a chance to take it all in, your private transfer will meet you at the hotel and escort you to Falcone Borsellino Airport for your flight home. You could also extend your time in Italy with a wine tour of a different region such as Piedmont or Puglia to highlight other treasured, but under the radar, Italian wines.