Need recommendations for wineries to visit in Sicily

WINE TALK
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I think a lot of just depends on where you’re going. A lot of people visit Etna because they’re going to Taormina and it’s very close by. I think it’s worth going south to see Gulfi, occhipinti and COS, but you have to plan for it.

For me the coolest city in Eastern Sicily is Siracusa, although I did also like Taormina, you just have to go at a time of year where there isn’t quite as many crowds. The south is also really cool.

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We were there this last September and really enjoyed:

  • Benanti: As others have recommended, the meal tastings are great fun. We did the Iconic tasting and loved the food & wine.
  • Tenuta delle Terre Nere: Great wine, great tasting with very gracious hosts. Beautiful location too.
  • Girolamo Russo: Amazing hosts, we really loved meeting Giuseppe & Dante.
  • Arianna Occhipinti: Nice tour and the wine is always lovely.

Also while you’re visiting wineries on the north side, some recommendations for lunch:

  • San Giorgio e il Drago in Randazzo. Some of the best pasta of our trip.
  • Macelleria ristorante griglieria da Nino in Malvagna. Great meats!
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Make sure they go to cave ox! Great international wine selection and pretty decent food

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Thanks one and all, for the detailed and thoughtful replies. As Kyle pointed out several months ago, hopefully this thread will prove to be a useful resource to WBers planning trips to Sicily in the future

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Lots of good recommendations here. For posterity, I will add one restaurant and some wineries outside of Etna:

Nino Barraco (Marsala region) makes masterful Nero D’Avola and a great Catarrato.

Daino (Caltagirone) makes one of the best rosés I’ve ever had. Their corks are produced from trees within their own property, which is in a protected natural area.

Vigna Nica (Messina) their white Mamertino is exquisite. Fresh and complex, like grapefruit, oysters, and white pepper. More broadly, the Mamertino appellation (for white and reds) deserves more attention than it gets.

Destro (Etna) make a delicious series of traditional method sparkling wines called Saxa Nigra. Overall, don’t sleep on Etna sparkling wines - many are super competitive. See also Terrazze dell’Etna.

Steakhouse:
Toronero in Messina serves great steaks, with good service, and has a large BTG program including dessert wines.

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I was recently in Sicily for 3 weeks and happy to provide any other advice on non-wine logistics- cities, beaches, restaurants etc. My wife and I had a fabulous time and I’m happy to spread the word- feel free to DM me…

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I highly recommend the Slow Food restaurant app ‘Osterie d’Italia’ for anyone visiting Italy. I buy the revised app every year and use it all the time; they only recommend the places they like, and now it’s in English. I hate eating bad food in Italy.

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Gotta thank y’all for your recommendations. Travelling to Sicily in April '26.
Palermo → Cefalu → Taormina (Naxos) → Ortigia → Agrigento → Palermo
My wife’s family is from NE Mt. Etna area, so we have a tour of that area and will stay 4 nights in Naxos.
With 2 nights at every other location save Palermo which is just in & out.

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Was it easier to fly into Palermo? Delta has a direct flight from jfk to Catania now.

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We bought our tickets last summer, and the only flights that made sense at that time were to/from Palermo.
We are going from JFK, renting a SUV (4 people) from Syracuse to JFK and renting one to get back.
It would have been better to go to Catania…but we’re renting a car and driving…which I enjoy.
Next time…

I’m considering Mt. Etna right now. I won’t have hiking boots. Is there an easy way to see the lava tubes/
calderas/flows etc. without hiking or going up the cable car/bus route?