Hidden Surroundings of Palermo
2 April 2021
Design Your Sicilian Tour
2 April 2021
Wine Tours
Sicily is a large island but, when it comes to wine, is a continent for the incredible variety of geographic areas and terroirs. Sicilians are winemakers since at least three thousands years. In Marsala, Mt Etna and many other excellent areas wineries grow Sicilian grape varieties such as nocera, corinto nero, nerello mascalese, grillo, catarratto, frappato, zibbibbo, perricone etc to make surprisingly unique wines.
We select the best wineries that combine quality, innovation and tradition with sustainable and often organic agriculture. Many wineries we work with are family-run and our guests are welcomed by the owners and the wine makers.
For groups of wine lovers, we can organise a regional tour of vineyards and rural areas where mass tourism does not arrive to discover a different Sicily at the speed of nature.
We can customise for you a great daily excursion or you can choose one of our suggestions.
Click on tabs below to choose your excursion.
Excursion 1
TRAPANI AND MARSALA. THE GRILLO WINE ROUTE
Highlights
- Organic winery visit, tastings and lunch
- Marsala DOC wine tasting
- Visit to Marsala saltpans
- Cannolo and cappidduzzi tastings
- Great landscapes
The province of Trapani is one of the most important areas for the Sicilian viticulture and surprises visitors with fantastic landscapes and beautiful hills covered with vineyards. The grape varieties perriconne and grillo are the most representative for this area. Because of its good acidity and freshness grillo is a very versatile white grape and the wines produced with this variety range from fresh sparkling whites to the fortified Marsala DOCs.
Along this relaxing route for wine lovers we will stop at one family-run organic winery where the oenologist is very proud of his grillo and perricone grapes, issued since generations from family owned clones. This is a very hospitable winery where together with an informal wine tasting you will try some excellent local specialities.
After a stop in the beautiful natural reserve of the Marsala saltpans where you can also visit the salt museum and learn more about traditional salt farming, we will continue our grillo wine route into the baroque town of Marsala. The city centre is surrounded by walled large wineries where the fortified Marsala DOC is produced since the end of the 18th century. Grillo, sometimes blended with catarratto, is the grape used to produce the Marsala Vergine, the best among these DOC wines. In a cosy wine bar, we will discover the fascinating history of this wine while sipping a glass of vergine soleras, superiore ambra secco or superiore riserva oro dolce.
Cannoli and cappidduzzi along the road are a must in the province of Trapani!
Group size: min 2 – max 16
Suitable for families: yes. A very enjoyable excursion for children who like spending a day outdoor with some good tastings for them.
Days: this tour can be booked every day except for Saturdays, Sundays and special holidays.
To book this excursion or receive more info please use our form or send us an email to info@paesaggiosicilia.com
Excursion 2
NATURAL WINES, BEES AND CASTLES
Highlights
- Visit to a family run organic farm
- Natural wines, olive oil and honey tastings
- Medieval castles and fortified farms
- Beautiful landscapes
- Cassateddi tasting
In Sicily in the last twenty years many young oenologists, agronomists and farmers have taken the decision to go back to their family land using their skills and studies to give a new opportunity to Sicilian agriculture and rural areas.
Near Alcamo we will visit the vineyards of two young winemakers who have become well known for their excellent natural wines made with the grape varieties of Western Sicily. With the same passion that they put into wine they also produce delicious olive oil and honey. Here everything is done in perfect harmony with the environment and with a real love for the indigenous Sicilian bees. You will try all their delicious products during a relaxing tasting and light lunch.
Around Alcamo and Castellammare there are several medieval castles and bagli, fortified farms built to protect humans and animals from pirates’ attacks. We will visit the area and some of these monuments including the charming baglio of Scopello.
A tasting of traditional cassateddi with ricotta is an opportunity that cannot be missed in this area.
Group size: min 2 – max 16
Suitable for families: yes. A very enjoyable excursion for children who like spending a day outdoor.
Days: this tour can be booked every day except for Sundays and special holidays.
To book this excursion or receive more info please use our form or send us an email to info@paesaggiosicilia.com
Excursion 3
ETNA WINES, VILLAGES AND HANDICRAFT
Highlights
- Etna DOC winery visit and wine tasting
- Tastings in a local confectionary
- Walk through historical villages
- Artisanal workshop visit
Etna is one of the must haunted destination in Sicily with many visitors coming from all over the world. But in this extremely fascinating area it is possible to find some of the best Sicilian boutique wineries, “off the beaten path” lava stone villages, hidden Byzantines churches and well preserved handcraft traditions.
The northern and south-eastern slopes of the volcano are the best areas in the Etna wine DOC region. We have selected a range of small and medium wineries that we believe are the most representative of these two areas and where excellent wines, landscapes, soils and friendly welcomes are blended together.
Therefore, we can suggest for this daily excursion one or two wineries and customise the day according to your expectations.
Etna is not just wines. It is a world of lovely villages, hazelnuts and pistachio sweets and some very traditional workshops such as medieval instruments or Sicilian carriages makers. Very interesting visits and tastings to complete your wine experience.
Group size: min 2 – max 16
Suitable for families: yes.
Days: this tour can be booked every day except for Saturdays, Sundays and special holidays.
To book this excursion or receive more info please use our form or send us an email to info@paesaggiosicilia.com
