Mount Etna Wine Tours
Etna’s vineyards climb the volcano to a thousand metres on black soil, and the Nerello Mascalese and Carricante grown there make Sicily’s most sought-after wines; a tour pairs two or three wineries on the north slope with the craters, the lava fields and lunch, from Taormina or Catania. Compare the top-rated tours below, then read our notes on the wine and the day.
Etna wine tours and tastings
Etna wine tours from Taormina and Catania
Formats: full days from Taormina with craters, the Alcantara gorge and one to three wineries; half days from Catania with a sunset and a tasting; full days from Catania with lunch at a winery; tours from Syracuse; winery-only tastings around Linguaglossa for self-drivers.
What you taste: Etna Rosso from Nerello Mascalese, Etna Bianco from Carricante, rosato, and single-contrada wines, with Etna’s food: Bronte pistachios, salumi, mountain cheese and honey.
Price and time: 150 to 210 dollars for a full day from Taormina; 70 to 150 from Catania; 45 to 75 for a winery visit.
The wine
Etna DOC, Sicily’s first, dates from 1968. Etna Rosso is at least 80 percent Nerello Mascalese with Nerello Cappuccio; Etna Bianco is at least 60 percent Carricante, and the Bianco Superiore from Milo 80 percent. The vineyards sit between roughly 400 and 1,000 metres on lava soils, and since 2011 the 133 contrade, the named districts, can appear on the label, which is why Etna is compared to Burgundy. The reds are pale, fine and mineral, closer to Nebbiolo or Pinot Noir than to the island’s usual Nero d’Avola; the whites are sharp and long-lived. Harvest runs from late August for whites to late October for Nerello.
The day
From Taormina, the north slope around Linguaglossa and Randazzo is 30 minutes away; full days combine one to three wineries with the Alcantara gorge or the craters and run six to eight and a half hours. From Catania, the south slope and the Rifugio Sapienza cable car are under an hour; half days pair a sunset on the craters with a tasting, full days add a winery lunch. From Syracuse, trek-and-wine days run about ten hours. Self-drivers can book a winery visit with a tasting for the price of two bottles, mostly around Linguaglossa.
Frequently asked questions
Etna wine tour from Taormina or Catania?
Taormina for the north slope and the classic wineries; Catania for the craters and lower prices. Both cover the wine well.
When is the best time for an Etna wine tour?
October, during the Nerello harvest, with the vines turning; spring for the flowers and the snow still on the summit.
Is Etna wine expensive?
Bottles start around 15 euros at the cellar and rise fast for the contrada wines; the tastings are fairly priced and the food is generous.
Read next: Etna wine explained
How we choose
We list only experiences with a strong rating over a meaningful number of reviews and free cancellation where available, and we favour small-group and family-run hosts. FindEatLocal earns a commission when you book through GetYourGuide or Viator links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay. More about how we choose.