Sicily Wine Tour: History & Culture Exploration

As Sicily’s second-largest city, the city of Catania bustles with activity throughout the day. The picturesque countryside sweeps to the slopes of Mount Etna in the distance while the Baroque architecture shines with a subtle gold hue across the city. Your flight will land at Catania-Fontanarossa International Airport, where your private transfer will greet you upon arrival. The remainder of the day will be yours to enjoy the charms of Catania at your preferred pace, and you might want to begin by indulging as the sensational aromas draw you in. The surrounding restaurants serve mouthwatering classic dishes like pasta cooked in squid ink, indulgent grilled meats, and the traditional flavors of pasta served with tomato sauce, eggplant, and ricotta cheese in a dish known as pasta alla norma.

The enticing aroma of pistachios usually drifts through the streets, but often fade beneath the fragrant pastries of Sant’Agata, which contain goat milk ricotta, candied fruit, and dark chocolate. When strolling through the city, you will find the Teatro Romano, an ancient Greek theater built in the second century BC. The fascinating structure contains steps made from dried lava and stadium seating covered in marble. The narrow lanes leading to the theater possess an iconic image of laundry dangling from lines and the sounds of the radio shaping the welcoming ambiance that combines the ancient and the contemporary life of the city.

In the morning, Catania comes alive with vendors and locals filling the streets at La Pescheria, the famous fish market. After an early breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and guide you through the legendary daily affair where tables nearly groan beneath the weight of the seafood presented along the streets. Restaurateurs and home cooks alike wander through the marketplace in search of the best catch and a good deal as they create the perfect dinner recipe in their head. You find vendors showcasing their catch with the likes of massive swordfish, ruby-red prawns, giant mussels, and delicate sea urchins.

After exploring the splendors of Catania, your guide will take you outside of the city to the fertile foothills of Mount Etna. The volcanic activity fills the soil with rich minerals that are perfect for cultivating fruits, vegetables, olive orchards, almond groves, and grapevines meant for wine production. Your guide will offer a history of the wine region as you traverse the dusty trails between vineyards and highlight a deep history that dates back to the Phoenicians and the ancient Greek settlers. At your first winery, your guide will lead you through the rows of vines set beneath the looming shadow of the volcanic peak.

You can feel the waxy texture of the grapes and see how the landscape informs the way the produce grows. During your tasting, you will have a sensational view that overlooks the expansive vines that spread across the foothills as your guide pours a sample of a wine grown higher than 3,500 feet above sea level. The medium-bodied white wine contains notes of lemon zest and grapefruit with a tart, crisp acidity awakening your palate for more wines to come.

Your private transfer will greet you at your hotel after breakfast and escort you away from the bustling streets of the morning Pescheriato reach the historical province of Caltanissetta. You will meet your guide in the gorgeous central piazza where the sounds of the splashing water from the Triton Fountain fill the air. The giant feature was constructed in the 19th century and features a bronze horse tamed by a triton with two threatening sea monsters emerging from the water. Explore the noble buildings surrounding Piazza Garibaldi and wander down Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Corso Umberto to reach the private kitchen that emulates the culinary traditions dating back more than 2,000 years.

Inside the private kitchen, your guide will explain the history of pasta in Italy and the origins of pasta in Sicily, which dates back to the Roman occupation of the island when legions turned the landscape into a giant granary to feed the Roman people. Thepasticceriaalong the streets possess aromas of hazelnuts and almond paste, but the private kitchen contains the scents of spicy cheeses, red wine, and the familiar aroma of dried flour.

Your immersive cooking class will blend history and culture as you learn to craft handmade pasta using the classic ingredients of water and flour. Your guide will offer you a choice of the type of grain you wish to use as many local chefs are rediscovering some of the ancient Sicilian grain varieties and utilizing their different properties for pasta, bread, or even cookies. At the end of the lesson, you can dig into the delightful pasta dish you created with a paired glass of wine meant to accentuate the flavors of both the dish and the drink.

In the morning, the aromas of cloves, cinnamon, and chocolate drift from the many pasticcerias scattered across the city. Locals visit the neighborhood bar for a freshly brewed espresso before venturing to work, and if you are up early, you can join them. Your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to the province of Vittoria and the quiet town of Valledolmo, which is situated on a mountainous plateau more than 2,493 feet above sea level. You will have a marvelous view over the farms that spread around the landscape below growing corn, tomatoes, and an abundance of grapes. You will enjoy the relaxing and friendly ambiance of the town before visiting a selection of local vineyards as they cultivate a combination of grapes indigenous to Sicily including the Nero d’Avola and Nerello Mascalese, and international varietals such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

You will meet with vintner at one particular winery known for blending local and foreign varietals for distinctive flavors and the definitive textures. Enjoy a tasting of a select group of wines grown and produced on the estate including a stunning mixture of Nero d’Avola and Perricone grapes. The luscious red wine hints at aromas of tobacco and vanilla leading to a silky body and lingering, flavorful finish. After your wine tour, your guide will take you to a gorgeous hotel in the enchanting town of Vittoria. Vineyards border the cobbled lanes that lead into the foothills of the Iblei Mountains. The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazia towers above the opulent Piazza del Popolo beside the rows of columns that adorn the elegant neoclassical theater.

You will set out after breakfast for a half-day tour devoted to sampling the wines produced in the Ragusa province that surround the charming town of Vittoria. The vineyards embody the splendor of the bright green vines, and the plump grapes struggle under the Mediterranean sun to fortify the flavor of the landscape. Your guide will lead you through a selection of wineries, and each offer insight into the different style of wines that are cultivated in the province.

Your first winery will offer a selection of three wines including Carricante and Grillo. You can sample wine made from 100 percent Grillo DOC Sicily, representing one of the grapes protected by the identifying label Denominazione di Origine Controllata. The aroma of bananas, pineapple, and golden apple fills the glass before you find a rounded, fresh, full body. You will enjoy a light lunch on an estate accompanied by the delicious wines cultivated on the property before continuing to view the Baroque marvels of Ragusa. Wander the beautiful cobbled lanes that wind up the rocky peaks separating the town into an upper and lower level. The gray stone and tangled alleyways juxtapose the lavish Baroque palaces and opulent piazzas of the historical city center. The Millo Murals capture the elegance of black and white, raw materials with a modern aesthetic adding a unique beauty to the architecture of the city.

After arriving in the city of Siracusa with your private transfer, you can take the time to settle into the comfort of your accommodations at the center of the city. Your guide will escort you through the amazing history and captivating culture of Sicily’s oldest city that once boasted the world’s largest ancient population with foundations that date back to the 8th century BC. Discovering the depths of Siracusa’s past will take you first to the Archeological Park to view the massive stone steps and elegant stadium seating of the Greek Theater. You will practically hear the booming voices of Greek heroes echoing from the center stage inside the structure that could hold up to 16,000 spectators staging the works of Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus.

The Piazza del Duomo hosts the masterpiece of Baroque architecture and is bordered by opulent palaces that are built atop of the former ancient citadel. The cathedral contains a number of Doric columns that blend into the surrounding grand architecture but reflect the ancient history of the acropolis temples. The morning market brims with life from locals in search of fresh ingredients and vendors that showcase their array of fruits, meat, fish, and vegetables. Butchers, cheesemongers, and fishmongers offer samples of quality, celebrated flavors they wish to promote ranging from hams to cured meats, fresh cheeses to a wide assortment of seafood. Your guide will introduce you to a wine vendor to learn more about the Sicilian delicacies crafted on the outskirts of Siracusa.

You will make your way to the city of Modica in the morning with your guide for a tour of the stunning medieval city center that shines against a mixture of Baroque architectural grandeur. As one Sicily’s most atmospheric towns, you will find charm in the treasures of the central piazza and the steep staircases that climb up the hillside. The genuinely welcoming feeling of the city derives from locals’ sense of pride in their community issuing warm and authentic friendliness to visitors.

The winding streets open to sporadic views of the gorge on which the city sits nearly 985 feet above the valley floor. The buildings seemingly rise on top of one another leading to the Castello di Conti located on a rocky outcrop looking down over the streets but paling in grandeur to the sensational Church of San Giorgio. The Baroque architecture crowns a 250-step staircase with a three-tiered façade that soars above the medieval alleyways. Inside, you will notice the kaleidoscope of color glistening along the walls with silver, gold, and blue embodying the traditional allure of 18th-century Sicilian Baroque style.

You will continue to the small town of Scicli, which apart from its Baroque architecture also hosts Sagra delle Teste di Turco each year in May, which leaves the city overflowing with the aromas of a pastry topped with powdered sugar and accompanied by the glasses of local wine. Your time in Scicli will take you into the heart of the radiant churches and palaces that glisten with marvelous Baroque design embodied in the architecture that lines Via Francesco Mormina Penna. Strolling through town will be a delight and a relaxing time to settle into the marvels of the surrounding designs and the enchanting ambiance.

Your day will begin after breakfast when your private transfer escorts you to a family-owned olive orchard. The herbaceous scent of the leaves drifts through the air as you meet your guide eager to introduce you to the sensational family and cultural history of olive oil in Sicily. You will wander through the orchard and learn about the different types of olives grown on the farm, in Sicily, and across Italy before sampling one of the plump and bitter olives that add complexity to olive oil but are not generally eaten on its own.

During the tour, your guide will show you the historical methods for producing olive oil, as well as more contemporary methods. In the tasting room, you will sample a selection of extra virgin olive oils known for their superior quality and robust flavors. Your guide can provide a demonstration of how to sample the oil and what you are specifically looking for when tasting olive oil. You might find fruity notes of green tomato and fresh herbs leaving a full-bodied spice on your palate.

You will continue to a family-owned vineyard where your local guide will offer more insight into the Nero d’Avola grape, which thrives in the calcareous soils near the city of Noto. You will have a stunning view of the vineyards from the winery tasting room in which you can bask in the luxurious ambiance and promise of satisfying wines. Your guide will pour a sample of select wines that contain Nero d’Avola, including wine with 60 percent Nero d’Avola and 40 percent Frappato. The result is a notable embodiment of the characteristics of local soil and climate with a scent of ripe black cherry, cardamom, and cinnamon.

The ancient roots of Siracusa are on display from every corner of the bustling city in the form of the lingering ruins of the Temple of Apollo to the lush Fonte Arethusa. The seaside promenade known as the Foro Italico draws locals and visitors alike in the morning eager to stroll alongside the wading waters of the glistening sea. Ancient papyrus reeds rise out of the freshwater that springs as one of two locations in all of Europe where the plant grows, which adds an extra layer of complexity to the legends that surround the freshwater spring.

Your private transfer will meet you at your hotel after breakfast and one last morning to take it in and escort you to Catania-Fontanarossa International Airport. You can extend your exploration of the famous and overlooked wines on the mainland with a wine tour of Piedmont or Puglia before continuing home if you would like to extend your Italian vacation.