The wines I list here are in no particular order, and they are not necessarily expensive, but you’ll probably get a good price-quality value here without hurting your wallet (I also included their approximate price):
Some of the most popular Sicilian vineyards include Planeta, Rapitalà, Donnafugata, Tasca d’Almerita, Duca di Salaparuta, Florio and Pellegrino. Top varieties include: Red: Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Nero d’Avola, Frappato, Syrah. White: Inzolia, Catarratto, Grillo. Dessert wines: Passito, Moscato, Marsala, Malvasia and Zibibbo.
Red Wines:
- Faro D.O.C., Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Nocera – Bonavita Winery – Price: 18 euros
- Cerasuolo di Vittoria – COS Winery – Price: 14.50 euros
- Don Antonio, Nero d’Avola – Morgante Winery – Price: 22.50 euros
- Mille e una Notte, 90% Nero d’Avola,10% other varieties - Donnafugata Winery – Price: 40 euros
- Santa Cecilia, Nero d'Avola – Planeta Winery ¬– Price: 19/20 euros
- Corvo, Nero d’Avola, Pignatello, Nerello Mascalese – Duca di Salaparuta – Price: 6/7 euros
- La Segreta, 50% Nero d'Avola, 30% Merlot, 20% Syrah – Planeta Winery – Price: 8 euros
- Camelot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend – Firriato Winery – Price: 23 euros
- Etna Rosso, Mascalese 85% Nerello Mantellato 15% – Murgo Winery – Price: 8 euros
- Noà, Nero d’Avola 40%, Merlot 30%,Cabernet Sauvignon 30% – Cusumano Winery – Price: 20 euros
- Regaleali, Nero d’Avola – Tasca d’Almerita – Price: 7 euros
- Tanè, 85% Nero d'Avola, 15% Syrah – Valle dell’Acate – Price: 24 euros
White Wines:
- Anthilia – Donnafugata – Price: 8 euros
- Altavilla della Corte, Grillo – Firriato – Price: 8 euros
- Colomba Platino, Inzolia – Duca di Salaparuta – Price: 8/9 euros
- Bidis, Chardonnay, Inzolia – Valle dell’Acate – Price: 13.50 euros
- Kaid, Syrah – Alessandro di Camporeale – Price: 14.50 euros
- Principe di Corleone, Catarratto 80%, Damaschino 20% – Alcamo Bianco D.O.C. – Price: 8 euros
Dessert Wines: Do as the locals, dip some Italian biscotti into the wine and enjoy!
- Moscato Passito di Pantelleria – Martingana 2000 Salvatore Murana – Price: 49 euros/ 50 cl.
- Passito di Pantelleria – Pellegrino Winery – Price: 16 euros/ 50 cl.
- Vergine Baglio Florio, Marsala Vergine D.O.C. – Florio – Price: 18 euros/ 50 cl.
- Malvasia delle Lipari Passito , Malvasia D.O.C. – Barone di Villagrande – Price : 15/25 euros
- Ben Ryé, Moscato Passito di Pantelleria , Zibibbo – Donnafugata – Price: 10/15 euros
Where to buy:
Ragusa:
Enoteca Ristor Vip:
- Via O.M. Corbino 29, Ragusa - Tel. 0932.652.9990
- Le Masserie Shopping Mall - SS 115 Freeway - V. Grandi 26, Ragusa.
Enoteca Vini Olindo:
- Via G. di Vittorio 116 - Tel: 0932.623311
Palermo:
Enoteca/Wine Bar Vino Veritas
Via Sammartino 29, Palermo - Tel. 091 6090653
Hours: 9 am- 2 pm and from 4 pm – 9 pm
Enoteca Picone
Via Marconi 36, Palermo – Tel. 091 331300
Cana Enoteca
Via Alloro 105, Palermo – Tel. 091 6101147
Catania:
Locanda del Vinattiere Enoteca/Wine Bar/Restaurant
Via E. Merletta 13 (close to Piazza Duomo) – Tel. 095 7158152
Enoteca Regionale di Sicilia
Viale Africa 31, Catania – Tel. 095 7462210
Hours: from Tuesday to Saturday 10 am-1 pm and 5 pm-8 pm; Closed Mon/Sun
Liquori E Dolciumi Di Meli Alfio
P.zza Giovanni Bovio 18, Catania
Tel: 095 532796
Acireale, Catania:
Enoteca il Tocco di Vino
Via Galatea 18 - Tel: 095.763.4215
Taormina:
Enoteca Laganà
Via G. di Giovanni 47 - Tel: 094.223040
Winery tours and tastings:
1• PLANETA Vineyards, offer tours and wine tastings at the following locations:
o Dell'Ulmo Winery in Sambuca di Sicilia
o Della Dispensa Winery & Sella Segreta Winery in Menfi (AG)
o The BUONVINI Winery in Noto (SR) and DORILLI Winery in Vittoria (RG) can be visited by appointment only and in certain months of the year.
Hours:
Tue-Sat (except holidays) from 9 am to 3 pm
How to book:
Send an email or a fax at least 2 days in advance to: visits@planeta.it or fax (+39) 091-612-4335, indicate the day, time of arrival and number of people that want to take the tour. Tel: (+39) 091-32-7965.
Wines:
- La Segreta : Bianco IGT Sicilia - 50% Grecanico, 30% Chardonnay, 10% Viognier, 10% Fiano – 7 euros
- Chardonnay: IGT Sicilia , Chardonnay- 18 Euros
- Moscato di Noto D.O.C. – Moscato 100% - 19 euros
- Santa Cecilia: IGT Sicilia , Nero d’Avola – 15/25 euros
- Cerasuolo di Vittoria : D.O.C., Nero d'Avola 60%, frappato 40% - 7/10 euro
2• DONNAFUGATA Cellars - Via S. Lipari 18 in Marsala offer wine tastings and tours in English for a minimum of 6 people with prices varying from 5 to 36 euros.
Hours:
9 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 6:30 pm (Monday - Friday).
How to book:
Tel. 0923 724 245/263 - E-mail enoturismo@donnafugata.it
Wines:
- Anthìlia I.G.T. bianco inzolia 50%, catarratto 50% - 7/10 euros
- Contessa Entellina : D.O.C. bianco.: ansonica, chardonnay- 10/15 euros
- Mille e una Notte : I.G.T. rosso: nero d'Avola, altri vitigni autoctoni - 40 euros
3• TASCA D’ALMERITA Vineyard offer tours and wine tastings but only for groups from 8 to 25 people. Weekdays only.
Contrada Regaleali - 90020 Sclafani Bagni (PA) - Tel: +39 091 6459711 - www.tascadalmerita.it
Hours: Mon - Fri. 8.30 am - 1.30 pm / 2.30 pm - 5.30 pm
How to book:
Fill the form on their website www.tascadalmerita.it under contact – visits – booking. or call +39 0921 544011 / +39 091-645-9711
Wines:
- Almerita Brut : Chardonnay - 20 euros
- Leone d'Almerita : IGT Catarratto – 7 euros
- Nozze d'Oro :D.O.C. Inzolia – 13 euros
- Rosso del Conte : I.G.T. rosso , nero d'Avola 90%, perricone 10% - 15> 25 Euro
- Cygnus: Nero d'Avola 75%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25% - 12 euros
4 • AVIDE Winery - Avide Vitivinicola
Contrada Mendolilla - Strada Provinciale 7 - 97013 Comiso (RG)
How to book:
Tours by appointment only on Saturday & Sundays - Tel: +39 0932 967456 - www.avide.it
Wines:
- Barocco Cerasuolo di Vittoria doc rosso: Frappato con Nero d’Avola 21€
- Cerasuolo di Vittoria Etichetta nera 8€
Wine related products:
Also excellent are any of the wine jam marmalades that play very well with strong flavoured cheeses like Ragusano DOC or Parmiggiano Reggiano.
Where to buy:
Casa del Formaggio Sant'Anna di Dipasquale
Corso Italia 387 - 97100 Ragusa
Tel: +39 0932 227485
Wine related Events:
- A great event for wine lovers is Cantine Aperte (Open Cellars Day) this year it was held on May in its 15th edition, looking forward for next year’s.
- Another great event is Cheese Art. This event is held in Ragusa every 2 years, between June and July. The next one will be in 2009. They have cheese, wine and beer tasting and pairing, you can also buy cheese, wine, salami and other related stuff. They have experts explaining the main features of different kinds of cheese from around the world and, of course, local ones. There’s also live music, plays, seminars, etc. Last time I was there, it was organised in the gardens of the beautiful Donnafugata Castle.
- A third event not to be missed is Vinimilo,a traditional festival dedicated to Bacchus (or Dionysus, the god of wine in Greek/Roman mythology). It takes place every year in september in the town of Milo, situated on the slopes of Mount Etna. Wine related exhibitions, tastings, seminars, etc. - Info: Tel. 095/955328 e 955437 - www.vinimilo.it
Special thanks to Salvatore Giorgio and Stefania Messina for their valuable contribution to this post.
