Sicily
Wine + Culture tour
Next Tours in Sicily
Welcome to Sicily
One step on the island and you know exactly what Goethe was talking about. Its colorful inhabitants, ancient and motley ancestry, savage nature, proud Baroque towns, endless coasts, humble yet incredibly rich gastronomy (revered by all Italians — especially for the desserts!) and a viticulture that goes back about 4000 years makes Sicily the stuff myths are made of — and, actually, it is: the island is the set for many a Greek and Roman myth, chronicled by Homer, Cicero, Ovid and Virgil.
La Dolce Vigna’s 7 Day – 6 Night tour features the eastern part of the island where the majestic Mount Etna — Europe’s highest active volcano — dominates the horizon. You will learn all about Sicily’s native red grapes, Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Frappato, and white, Inzolia, Catarratto, Carricante, Grillo, Moscato, and taste the phenomenal wine they produce: Etna Rosso and Etna Bianco, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Faro, Moscato di Siracusa, Moscato di Noto (don’t worry: we’ll master how to pronounce those).
Other experiences packed into this Sicilian cornucopia: visits to the charming towns (and UNESCO Heritage Sites) of Taormina, Syracuse, Noto and Modica, a hike through the volcanic terrain of Mount Etna, a guided walk-through of an ancient olive grove, some pretty exceptional ceramics, and tons of gelato.
Sicily Tour Highlights
Each of our tours is designed to offer an authentic experience, where local traditions meet the pleasure of fine wine and rich heritage. From renowned wineries to charming villages, we’ll guide you through the people, places, and flavors that make every destination truly unique.
Get to know the incredible wines of Eastern Sicily at top wineries selected for you by your sommelier guide
Hike along the craters of Mount Etna, Europe’s Highest active volcano
Experience an 800+ year-old olive grove + taste the exceptional olive oil it produces
Take a private tour of one of Modica’s world-renowned chocolate producers
Visit the stunning, seaside towns of Taormina, Syracuse, and Noto (All UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
Enjoy unforgettable meals thanks to Sicily’s rich culinary tradition
Unesco World Heritage Sites of Sicily
(Starred Sites are on the Sicily wine tour)
Sicilian Cuisine
Sicily is a cornucopia of flavors. It has absorbed traditions from the many cultures that conquered the island throughout its long history.
Meals are often abundant, featuring pasta and fresh vegetables such as eggplant, tomato, and artichokes. Seafood is a staple along the island’s lengthy coast, while meat and mushroom dishes are more common inland and around Mount Etna.
Prickly pear, citrus fruits and nuts such as the Bronte Pistacchio or the Noto Romana Almonds are ubiquitous, and make their way into the prized gelato and granita of Sicily, often served in a fluffy brioche bun. And, we can’t forget about one of Sicily’s big claims to fame: cannoli—just one of the million desserts you can savor while in Sicily!
Your Extraordinary Accommodations in Sicily
Our accommodations in Sicily will be nothing short of epic. We stay at three fabulous boutique hotels: one on Mount Etna, one in the Baroque town of Noto and finally a charming country estate near Vittoria.
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Sicily Tour Details
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We'll meet at a central location in Catania, boarding our spacious and comfortable shuttle and driving off toward towering Mount Etna. Our first stop will be at a family-run winery just south of the volcano which has an old palmento, a building where Sicilians used to come together as a community to make their wine completely by hand (and foot!). We'll tour the vineyards and have a tasting over lunch on their terrace. Afterward, we'll be taken up Mount Etna for a scenic drive with some stops to get out and walk around the volcanic terrain. Next, we will check in to our gorgeous hotel and have some free time to unpack, unwind and explore the grounds. Dinner will be a special wine-paired meal at the hotel.
Today we explore Taormina, a charming seaside town. We first meet our guide for a two-hour walking tour of the town, including a visit to the Greek Theater with breath-taking views. Lunch follows at one of my favorite restaurants. Afterward, you will have free time to shop, enjoy a gelato, or simply stroll the main thoroughfare. We’ll then head back to our hotel for some rest before dinner a locally-loved osteria.
We head out mid-morning to the Etna outpost of an important Sicilian winery. There, we will tour the winery and be treated to a wine tasting with brunch. Afterward, we will drive into the town of Randazzo to explore the town and for a casual wine tasting at an incredible wine bar with producers from all around Etna. Back at the hotel, have a nice leisurely afternoon. Dinner will be at a small town nearby.
Today, we'll heading south down the east coast with Mount Etna in our rear-view mirror. Syracuse, the famed Greek city, is our first stop. We'll wander through famous Greek ruins, including one of their largest open-air theaters ever built, before having lunch on the quaint island of Ortigia (connected to Syracuse by several short bridges). We will have a tasting of the sweet dessert wine, Moscato di Siracusa, to finish our lunch, and then there will be some free time to check out the cute shops and pretty vistas that Ortigia has to offer. Afterward, we will drive to the Baroque city of Noto, our home for the next two nights. We will stop for one of the town's famous semi-forzen dessert granita (Noto is also renowned for its almonds, so we strongly recommend the almond granita!), followed by our hotel check-in. Dinner will be at one of Noto's incredible restaurants.
Spend the morning sleeping in or exploring Noto's stunning architecture. Lunch will be on your own. (We will provide you a list of our favorite restaurants.) After lunch, we will drive to the heart of Sicily's prized extra virigin oil: Monti Iblei. We'll taste the flavorful olive oil made from Monti Iblei olives as well as other products made by a tiny, award-winning azienda agricola. Our visit will include a walk through an ancient olive grove with the owners. Dinner will be at a farm-to-table restaurant in a nearby town.
Heading west, we will reach Modica, known for its chocolate made from an ancient Aztec recipe that the Spanish brought over during their conquest of southern Italy. We will visit a respected producer to see how this famed chocolate is made followed by a gourmet lunch (Pretty obvious what dessert will be.) Our next stop will be Vittoria, the region famous for the distinctive Cerasuolo di Vittoria, a deeply-colored and complex red wine—the first to be awarded the Italian DOCG quality title in Sicily. We will check into our country inn
This morning, we will visit one last producer, a young wine-making star on the island. Back at our hotel, we’ll have a lovely picnic by the garden and some downtime before a cooking class with the hotel’s in-house chefs. Dinner will be partly what we make during the class.
With our bellies and suitcases full of wonderful Sicilian gastronomic treasures, you will be brought back to the heart of Catania for your continued island-traveling pleasure or for what will be undoubtedly an undesired departure. On a positive note, arrivederci in Italian means "until we see eachother again"! You'll be back.
We'll meet at a central location in Catania, boarding our spacious and comfortable shuttle and driving off toward towering Mount Etna. Our first stop will be at a family-run winery just south of the volcano which has an old palmento, a building where Sicilians used to come together as a community to make their wine completely by hand (and foot!). We'll tour the vineyards and have a tasting over lunch on their terrace. Afterward, we'll be taken up Mount Etna for a scenic drive with some stops to get out and walk around the volcanic terrain. Next, we will check in to our gorgeous hotel and have some free time to unpack, unwind and explore the grounds. Dinner will be a special wine-paired meal at the hotel.
Today we explore Taormina, a charming seaside town. We first meet our guide for a two-hour walking tour of the town, including a visit to the Greek Theater with breath-taking views. Lunch follows at one of my favorite restaurants. Afterward, you will have free time to shop, enjoy a gelato, or simply stroll the main thoroughfare. We’ll then head back to our hotel for some rest before dinner a locally-loved osteria.
We head out mid-morning to the Etna outpost of an important Sicilian winery. There, we will tour the winery and be treated to a wine tasting with brunch. Afterward, we will drive into the town of Randazzo to explore the town and for a casual wine tasting at an incredible wine bar with producers from all around Etna. Back at the hotel, have a nice leisurely afternoon. Dinner will be at a small town nearby.
Today, we'll heading south down the east coast with Mount Etna in our rear-view mirror. Syracuse, the famed Greek city, is our first stop. We'll wander through famous Greek ruins, including one of their largest open-air theaters ever built, before having lunch on the quaint island of Ortigia (connected to Syracuse by several short bridges). We will have a tasting of the sweet dessert wine, Moscato di Siracusa, to finish our lunch, and then there will be some free time to check out the cute shops and pretty vistas that Ortigia has to offer. Afterward, we will drive to the Baroque city of Noto, our home for the next two nights. We will stop for one of the town's famous semi-forzen dessert granita (Noto is also renowned for its almonds, so we strongly recommend the almond granita!), followed by our hotel check-in. Dinner will be at one of Noto's incredible restaurants.
Spend the morning sleeping in or exploring Noto's stunning architecture. Lunch will be on your own. (We will provide you a list of our favorite restaurants.) After lunch, we will drive to the heart of Sicily's prized extra virigin oil: Monti Iblei. We'll taste the flavorful olive oil made from Monti Iblei olives as well as other products made by a tiny, award-winning azienda agricola. Our visit will include a walk through an ancient olive grove with the owners. Dinner will be at a farm-to-table restaurant in a nearby town.
Heading west, we will reach Modica, known for its chocolate made from an ancient Aztec recipe that the Spanish brought over during their conquest of southern Italy. We will visit a respected producer to see how this famed chocolate is made followed by a gourmet lunch (Pretty obvious what dessert will be.) Our next stop will be Vittoria, the region famous for the distinctive Cerasuolo di Vittoria, a deeply-colored and complex red wine—the first to be awarded the Italian DOCG quality title in Sicily. We will check into our country inn
This morning, we will visit one last producer, a young wine-making star on the island. Back at our hotel, we’ll have a lovely picnic by the garden and some downtime before a cooking class with the hotel’s in-house chefs. Dinner will be partly what we make during the class.
With our bellies and suitcases full of wonderful Sicilian gastronomic treasures, you will be brought back to the heart of Catania for your continued island-traveling pleasure or for what will be undoubtedly an undesired departure. On a positive note, arrivederci in Italian means "until we see eachother again"! You'll be back.
Double Occupancy
$ 6,100 / Person
Single Supplement
$ 1,300
Inclusions
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Accompanying sommelier guide for the entire tour
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Comfortable Transportation + Driver from our meeting point to our farewell for all group activities
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7 Nights accommodations at boutique hotels with Breakfast
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All meals (except one) with sommelier-selected wine at top restaurants in the region
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All wine tastings + guided activities (special events, private tours, guest experts, entrance fees, etc.)
Exclusions
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Flight to Italy
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Travel expenses before and after the tour period
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Travel Insurance (highly recommended)
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Anything not specified as being included. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Requirements
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You must be 21+ years of age.
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You must be in good physical condition as your trip will involve walking, hiking, and other physical activities.
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You must sign La Dolce Vigna’s travel agreement.
Wine Tour Details
Within a few months of the tour, you’ll receive a complete tour package chock full of good stuff: your confirmed itinerary, tips on what to pack, a reading/ movie/ music list for Sicily, and a waiver form, which must be signed and returned to us prior to the tour.
Deposit + Cancellation Policy
A deposit of $1500 per person is required at the time of booking to guarantee your space. Balance of the full amount is due 90 days prior the tour start date. If there are still spots available less than 90 days prior to the tour start date, the full sum will be due upon booking.
All cancellations must be received in writing. If made 90 days or more prior to the tour start date, a refund less the deposit will be made. If made between 89-31 days prior to the start date, you will be issued a credit in the amount of 50% of the total cost already paid, less the deposit and any and all costs/fees that La Dolce Vigna, LLC has already paid third party vendors, such as room reservations, etc., towards future trips or services. No refunds will be made for cancellations made 30 days or less prior to the tour start date, nor for a cancellation made during the tour. We urge all clients to book travel insurance for their trip as we unfortunately cannot make exceptions for inclement weather or personal emergencies.
La Dolce Vigna reserves the right to cancel a tour. In this unlikely situation, you would receive a complete refund of your tour fees. La Dolce Vigna will not assume any other liability and is not responsible for any personal expenses as a result of a tour cancellation, such as airline tickets or personal hotel reservations.
Meet Your Guide: Elisa Pantani
Meet Your Guide: Elisa Pantani
Elisa is an Italian sommelier based in Venice. After studying Cultural Heritage and studying archaeology and conservation in Italy and Israel, she became fascinated with wine and eventually became the owner of a well-known restaurant in Venice for ten years. This experience shaped her enthusiasm for food and wine, realizing they represent the best moments for people to come together, to sit and share their stories, to express their feelings, and listen to others. During these years, she met many wine producers and visited their vineyards and cellars and is excited to share their stories with you.
La Dolce Vigna Difference
Our tours are always limited to a maximum of 12 people to assure you an intimate experience.
You will always have a certified sommelier guide to answer all of your wine-related questions on the road.
Our tours are centered around small, eco-conscious, family-run wineries that make truly outstanding wine, and are packed with cultural insights.
Be prepared to eat. A lot. We've picked out amazing spots for you, from the small, loved-by-locals osteria to the Michelin-starred restaurant.
Depending on the season and local events, we will custom organize the best and most insider experience for each group.
Rest assured that your tour price includes all meals (except one), activities, hotels, transportation from the moment we meet until our fond farewell.
For those of you who have been on other group tours, you know what we're talking about. Part of living la dolce vigna is taking the time to truly savor your experiences and surroundings. We've built in time for you to do just that at your own pace and on your own terms. Long live slow travel!
Besides helping local, artisanal economies through visiting small wine and food producers, eating at traditional trattorie and staying at boutique hotels, a donation on behalf of each individual that takes one of our tours will be made to 10,000 Gardens in Africa, a Slow Food initiative aimed at cultivating sustainable and healthy communities throughout Africa.
Any Other Questions?
Looking for a Private Wine Tour of Italy?
Look no further! In addition to our intimate group tours, La Dolce Vigna curates private wine tours—with or without a guide—based on your dates, travel style and interests. We will open the doors to authentic experiences complete with exceptional food and wine, colorful personalities, warm hospitality, not-to-be-missed cultural sites and many, many photo-worthy moments. (Trust us.)
La Dolce Vigna's Adventures Abroad