Sicilian Food & Wine Tour + Explora Journeys Mediterranean Cruise

VIP Meet & Greet service with Private transfer from Catania airport to Taormina and your 5-Star hotel, Lifestyle Voi Grand Hotel Mazzarò Sea Palace. Enjoy our Welcome Dinner at the Villa Sant’Andrea restaurant.

Meet your English-speaking assistant and drivers in the lobby of your hotel and transfer to Piedimonte Etneo village. Get on board of a vintage train reserved exclusively for you and reach the first vineyard by the most unconventional way: by historic railway passing through many villages and offering to its travelers picturesque glimpses of this unique view.

Our first stop is Camporè estate and its winery. Originally, the estate was owned by the King of Italy passed by donation to his aide-de-camp and then went by inheritance until it was purchased by a local family. Mount Etna overlooks the territory of the vineyards in the San Lorenzo and Campo Rè districts, located at 765 meters above sea level, on the last lava bank of a prehistoric flow. The volcanic territory is the result of a geological event that lasted about 500,000 years, and gives the wines produced in this area an exceptional mineral component that makes them structured, elegant and full-bodied, well prepared for aging.

Visit of the vineyards followed by wine tasting of Classic method wine of Etnean tradition in combination with the typical excellences of the area.

We reach the next winery, Pietradolce with a short transfer. Pietradolce was established in 2005 and found its home in Solicchiata, on the Northern slopes of Etna. The hypogean construction of the winery is less invasive and more respectful of the landscape. Its creation has been guided by an eco- friendly approach through the employment of energy saving techniques which ensure the natural thermic insulation of the indoors. The cellar is a mix of art and artisanship which gives born to contemporary style spaces strongly connected to their territory.

Pietradolce has been chosen to cultivate only grape varieties which are native to Mount Etna because of the deeply held conviction that these are most suited the local conditions.

Visit of the winery with wine tasting and lunch: A unique experience discovering the Grands Crus Barbagalli & Sant’Andrea begins with a walk to “Vigna Barbagalli”, followed by a visit to the winery. The tasting includes classic wines from the district, Barbagalli and Sant’Andrea.

Transfer back to the hotel.

Dinner at Sapio, a 1-Star Michelin restaurant in Catania.

Meet your English-speaking assistant and drivers in the lobby of your hotel. First stop is Planeta Sciaranuova estate and winery.

“In 2008, after searching for a long time for the best land for our vines, we stopped on the north side of Etna, among the lava flows and the woods which surround Passopisciaro. Here we planted our Nerello and Carricante vines and in 2012 the winery was also established.

The estate spreads both south and north of the village.

To the north, in the middle of the beautiful Sciaranuova vineyard, at more than 800 metres above sea level, we invested in the careful restoration of old buildings, which today represent the centre of our hospitality.

To the south, near the Feudo di Mezzo vineyard, we built the Feudo di Mezzo winery right in the centre of a fifteenth century lava flow. Nearby we planted Torreguarino, Pietramarina and Montelaguardia vines, ideal for our white wines.”

Visit of the vineyards followed by a guided tasting of 5 territorial wines with a tasty food & wine pairing experience of Sicilian delicacies and a technical tasting of 3 olive oils.

Continue your tour with a visit to COTTANERA estate and winery, one of the most renowned and extensive wineries in the Etna area. Mainly classic vines of the area are cultivated, such as Nerello Mascalese, Carricante, Inzolia, together with international vines such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The grapes are cultivated with full respect for the territory and nature, to allow a healthy and integral development of them, and to give life to extremely authentic and territorial bottles.

Dive into the history of Cottanera Etna’s territory and its wine traditions in a familiar and relaxed environment with storytelling, a description of the territory, a visit of the cellar and a walk through the vineyard Feudo di Mezzo.

Enjoy oven baked bread served with olive oil produced Nocellara Etnea olives, which have been cultivating in on our estate for decades, Sicilian rice balls “Arancini”, wild greens from Etna area, bruschetta, olives and sun dried tomatoes from our garden, a selections of local cheeses and salami and traditionally made sausage of the wild black boar of the Nebrodi region; these are typical flavours which will enhance the tasting of: Etna Bianco doc, Etna Rosato doc, Etna Rosso doc, Ardenza doc Sicilia Rosso made with Mondeuse and international grapes grown on our estate.

Transfer back to the hotel.

Dinner at Zash Ristorante, a 1-Star Michelin restaurant.

Meet your English-speaking assistant and drivers in the lobby of your hotel.

Our first stop is Baglio Bonsignore winery. This family-run winery is located within the route of the Wine & Food Trail of the Valley of the Temples, in that area devoted to the cultivation of Nero d’Avola and Grillo. Situated on a hillside, about 450 metres above sea level and about 18 kilometres from the sea, the calcareous/clayey soil, rich in water veins that flow into the artificial lake, provides an excellent balance between sapidity and acidity, the right ingredients for quality wines.

We will visit Nero d’Avola, Syrah, Grillo and Chardonnay vineyards. You will take a journey through nature, as the staff tell you about all the different varieties and the way they work the vineyards. At the end of the tour, you will enjoy a tasting of all three Bonsignore wines, which will let you experience the true soul of the company.

Lunch at Ristorante la Madia a 2-Star Michelin restaurant.
After lunch, we head back to Taormina and stop on the way at COS Winery for visit and wine tasting.

Three friends founded Azienda Agricola COS, in 1980: Giambattista Cilia, Cirino Strano and Giusto Occhipinti. The acronym of their last names is where the name for the winery – COS – comes from. It’s thanks to these three friends that the region of Cerasuolo di Vittoria was reborn and the area around Vittoria is thriving with its extraordinary wines.

The winery follows the principles of biodynamic farming in order to help the vines find and maintain a balance with nature in order to be able to express their true character and that of their terroir. For vinification, they decided to use terracotta vases that left no traces or aromas on the wine but were completely neutral vessels.

You will taste various wines accompanied by homemade bread and olive oil. Transfer back to the hotel.

Free time in Taormina and dinner on your own.

Meet your English-speaking assistant and drivers in the lobby of your hotel.

Private transfer to Catania airport for our flight to Rome.