Etna Wine Tours: Volcano Wineries from Taormina & Catania
Mount Etna wine tours from Taormina and Catania: Nerello Mascalese and Carricante, north-slope wineries, contrade and palmenti, volcano and wine days with lunch, and how to book.
The short version: Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, is one of the most exciting wine regions in Italy. Vines grow on black lava soils at up to 1,000 metres, especially on the north slope around Randazzo, Castiglione di Sicilia and Linguaglossa, making elegant reds from Nerello Mascalese and mineral whites from Carricante. Tours from Taormina or Catania combine the volcano with a family winery and a farmhouse lunch. Here is what to taste and how to book.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where | North and east slopes: Randazzo, Passopisciaro, Castiglione di Sicilia, Linguaglossa, Milo |
| From | Taormina about 45 minutes; Catania about 1 hour |
| Reds | Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio (Etna Rosso) |
| Whites | Carricante (Etna Bianco) |
| Format | Half-day tastings, volcano and wine days with lunch, jeep tours |
Why Etna wine tastes different
Etna’s vineyards climb the volcano’s flanks on terraces of black volcanic sand and rock, with big swings between hot days and cool nights. Etna Rosso, mainly Nerello Mascalese, is often compared to Burgundy or Barolo: pale, perfumed and fine; Etna Bianco from Carricante is salty and citrusy. Producers speak of contrade, named single vineyards, and some still use a palmento, the old stone winery where grapes were trodden. Read more in Etna wine explained.
How an Etna wine day works
Most tours from Taormina drive up through the villages of the north slope, visit a family winery for four or five wines, and serve a lunch of local produce; many add a walk on old lava flows or a stop at a crater. From Catania, shorter tastings and sunset tours are available. Combine with the rest of the island using our Sicily food and wine itinerary or the 5-day East Sicily food itinerary.
Our pick: From Taormina: Mount Etna Food and Wine Tasting Tour, a small-group day with a family winery, five wines, food tastings and an organic farmhouse lunch.
Compare all the regions: the best wine tours in Italy.
Frequently asked questions
What wine is made on Mount Etna?
Etna Rosso from Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, and Etna Bianco from Carricante, grown on volcanic soils.
Can you do an Etna wine tour from Taormina?
Yes. The north-slope wineries are about 45 minutes from Taormina, and most tours include hotel pickup.
Can you combine the volcano and a winery?
Yes. Many full-day tours walk on lava flows or visit craters in the morning and finish with a tasting and lunch.
Book an Etna wine tour
Compare Mount Etna wine tours, or see more Sicily food and wine experiences.
