If you are looking for something very special and very different in Italy, Sicily is amazing.  Sicily shows off some of the most amazing wineries in Italy –Planeta, Regaleali, and Benanti–wineries that you will visit as well as other world-class wineries whose exquisite wines will be sampled throughout the exploring of this wonderful region. You will be hosted by the owners and winemakers of these outstanding wineries. The Mt Etna wineries will make you want to stay longer, it is an amazing wine region of Sicily.

Taste Italian wine and Italian cuisine and discover the history of this amazing island.  Sicilian wines feature the medley of flavors that Sicily has been known for since ancient times and  represent some of the best wines in Italy. The Mt Etna wineries are worth the trip alone,a stunning landscape and amazing people. Some of the most ancient varietals are found here in Sicily. We found them on the foothills of Mt Etna.

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. It is one of the autonomous regions of Italy. Palermo is the capital of Sicily, the provinces are: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa and Trapani. Sicily’s closest neighbour is Calabria, 3 kl to the east across the straits of Messina.

Sicily has a rich and blended culture, particularly in the arts, music, literature, food, wine and architecture. The Sicilian economy is largely based on agriculture, and in particular orange and lemon orchards. More recently international tourists have begun to value the natural beauty of the Sicilian countryside. Sicily is also home to many historic sites such as the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the Greek theatre at Taomina and the Roman ruins at Siracusa. The great baroque cities of Ragusa, Modica and Noto are definitely worth  a visit.

What food is Sicily known for?

Cucina Povera, or peasant cuisine  descibes the type of food you will find, however it is enriched with the influences of the various civilisations that have occupied the Island , the Arabs, the Spanish, the Greeks and the North Africans, and with an abundance of fresh vegetables, fruits and a wealth of seafood. See my story on street food of Sicily. There is a special atmosphere in the ancient Sicilian markets.

Pasta alla Norma: This very popular pasta dish hails from eastern Sicily; a stick-to-your-ribs dish, it’s made with fried eggplant, tomatoes, basil, and ricotta salata. Sicily’s frutta marmorata—or marzipan—is often a work of art!

Spaghetti ai ricci (spaghetti prepared with sea urchin) Pasta con le sarde (with sardines) and Pasta alla Norma  are the most popular pasta dishes typically Sicilian. Manicotti is another common dish.

Cannoli originated in Sicily and are a staple of Sicilian cuisine. In Italy, they are commonly known as “cannoli siciliani”, Sicilian cannoli.

Wines of Sicily.

Sicily’s reputation as a food and wine paradise has remained intact for more than 3,000 years.

Beginning with the Greeks, who arrived on the eastern part of Sicily in the 8th century BCE, the idea of methodical grapegrowing practices for the purpose of quality winemaking firmly took root on the island.

Though many things have changed, most of Sicily’s indigenous grape varieties and time-honored winegrowing traditions continue to play an important role. Thanks to meticulous vineyard tending and gentle grape handling in Sicily’s wineries, Sicilia DOC wines feature the medley of flavors that Sicily has been known for since ancient times and which represent some of the best wines of Italy.

If you want to better understand the grape varieties of Italy there is a book available on Amazon by Ian D’Agata titled NATIVE WINE GRAPES OF ITALY, a truly amazing read. I also refer to Italian Wine Unplugged, Grape by Grape.

The world famous cuisine of Sicily is a reflection of the island’s bounty and biodiversity, but while Sicilian ingredients have long been a part of the Mediterranean culinary experience, the wines paired with these meals rarely came from Sicily. Fortunately for wine lovers, that is changing. Today, the Sicilian wine producers are focusing on the opportunities provided by the Mediterranean landscape. The island’s climatic conditions are perfect for producing healthy grapes and extraordinary wines with distinctive flavors at incredible value. For those who have already enjoyed Sicily’s wines, either with the island’s traditional foods or their own favorite international dishes,one thing remains clear: Incredible food and amazing wines do not have to be expensive.

As wine lovers discover the best-known Sicilian grapes—Grillo, Catarratto, Nero d’Avola, Frappato and others—they find that the sun-kissed island is capable of producing a range of intriguing flavors, but ultimately it is Sicily’s authenticity that wins our heart. From my 40 years of visiting wine regions around the world, Sicily simply blew me away, the history, the people, the conditions they grow grapes in and traditional winemaking methods are fascinating .

For more stories on the street food of Sicily click here

The most amazing Wine region in Sicily