Mount Etna Wine Tours at Christmas and New Year

Which Mount Etna wineries are open over Christmas and New Year?

These estates are the ones to check for a holiday itinerary. For each one, keep apart the holiday closures, the regular winter schedule and the appointments you can book. Our list of Etna wineries open in winter has each estate’s full November-to-February detail.

Sources: Donnafugata Etna, Palmento Costanzo tours, Gambino tastings, Etna Urban Winery, Murgo San Michele restaurant, Tornatore visits, Benanti hospitality, Planeta experiences.

1. Donnafugata Etna: a short holiday list, and a shop that is not a tasting

Donnafugata’s Randazzo estate on Etna’s north side publishes its hours and tasting times, which makes it the easiest estate to plan around. It opens every day except Monday, 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–18:00, with guided tours and tastings at 11:00, 13:00 and 16:00, by reservation only.

Its holiday list is short: closed on 25 and 26 December and on 1 and 6 January, with the shop open only until 1 pm on 24 and 31 December. The English and Italian pages give the same list. On those two half-days, the shop hours do not tell you whether the 11:00 tasting runs.

If a Donnafugata tasting matters to your trip, write to the Etna visitor team and ask: “Is the guided winery tour and tasting available on [date] at [time], or only the shop?”

2. Palmento Costanzo: open between the main holidays

Palmento Costanzo sits in Contrada Santo Spirito, near Passopisciaro. Its visits can combine wine with the restored palmento, the old building where grapes were pressed, and, depending on the tasting, local food.

The estate opens daily 10:00–18:30 and closes on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter. That beats a winery with a long winter shutdown, but it does not confirm a place on 24, 26 or 31 December, when programs may change or slots fill. For holiday dates, book an indoor tasting at a set time and ask whether the cellar visit still runs if rain cuts the vineyard walk.

3. Gambino Vini: a December winery, not a January fallback

Gambino Vini, above Linguaglossa, appeals to anyone in Taormina or Giardini Naxos who wants a tasting with wide hillside views. Its booking page carries a seasonal warning: no tastings from 1 January to 16 March, because the winery is closed.

If you miss a late-December tasting here, you cannot move it to 2 January. The half-day tours from Taormina that visit Gambino follow the same calendar, so book them for December.

4. Etna Urban Winery: closed for the holiday weeks

From a Catania hotel, an urban winery looks like the easy choice: no mountain driving. Etna Urban Winery’s own site, though, lists an annual break from 15 December to 15 January, and its regular hours (Tuesday to Saturday, 1–7 pm) resume after that. A marketplace listing can stay visible while the winery is closed, so the next free date may fall after your trip.

5. Murgo, Tornatore and Benanti: ask about the experience, not just the estate

Murgo / Tenuta San Michele pairs food and wine on Etna’s eastern slope. Lunch runs 12:00–14:00, and from November to April there is no evening service except for groups of 20 or more. Regular winter hours do not confirm Christmas or New Year service, so check both the menu and the cellar tour for your date.

Tornatore, near Castiglione di Sicilia, offers a classic tasting, a pairing with local products and a contrada selection. It publishes no holiday calendar; ask which format, if any, runs on your date.

Benanti, at Viagrande, is the wine-focused choice closest to Catania. Its published hours are Tuesday to Sunday upon reservation; write ahead to confirm your holiday date and the tasting.

Can you book an organised Etna wine tour over Christmas?

Possibly, depending on the departure date. A tour being listed online does not mean it runs. The formats:

1. Winery-only tasting. You arrange transport and book a cellar appointment. Simplest when the winery publishes a holiday calendar. Our pick for December: the Etna Nord tasting at Gambino, $47 with no transfer, 4.85★ from 55 reviews; it stops on 31 December.
2. Transport-included wine tour. A guide or driver collects you in Taormina, Giardini Naxos or Catania. Check the date and the named winery, especially if the tour normally uses an estate with a seasonal closure. Our pick: the small-group two-winery tour from Taormina, $162, 4.84★ from 110 reviews.
3. Private wine-and-food day. More flexible for families and small groups, but a private driver cannot open a closed cellar. Ask the provider to name the confirmed stops and its replacement policy. Our pick: the private three-winery day, from $314 per person, 4.91★ from 106 reviews.

The private day costs about twice the small-group tour; it suits a family or a group that wants to set the pace and the pickup point, while the $162 tour covers two wineries for most couples.

Compare formats on our Mount Etna wine tours page, then check the live calendar for your dates. The Taormina tour comparison and Catania tour comparison explain the departure options.

A bookable departure is not a guaranteed winery. A volcano-and-wine day may change its route or winery stop. If the estate is the reason you are going, confirm its name and the tasting time before you pay.

What about the Etna Wine Bus?

The Etna Wine Bus, run on the Etna Wine Route, takes travelers without a car from central Catania to two producers for tastings with local food. The operator’s page lists departures on Wednesdays and Sundays from April to December, at €150 per person, with at least 48 hours’ notice. The Sicilian Region’s tourism listing gives 20 December 2026 as the last date of the season.

Do not expect the Wine Bus on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve or in January. GetYourGuide also lists a Catania wine bus day with tastings ($168, 5.0★ from only 2 reviews); it may not be the same program, so check its calendar on its own.

Which dates to book first over the holidays

No single date has every winery open. With flexible dates, book in this order for 2026–27:

First choice: 22–23 December. A Tuesday and Wednesday before the public-holiday run. You still need an appointment, but you avoid Christmas Day and the New Year closures.

Second choice: 29–30 December. Also a Tuesday and Wednesday, and handy if you arrive after Christmas and want one long winery visit with lunch before New Year’s Eve.

Third choice: Sunday 27 December. Ask at estates that open on Sundays; not every estate takes Sunday appointments.

Least reliable: 24–26 and 31 December–1 January. These need special confirmation and should never be your only chance to taste.

After 1 January: do not count on Gambino or Etna Urban Winery as backups, because both are closed. Donnafugata reopens on 2 January, closes again on the 4th (a Monday) and the 6th (Epiphany), and Palmento Costanzo reopens on the 2nd.

If your trip spans several days, book the tasting for the earliest confirmed date and keep another day free in case weather or transport changes.

How to plan a holiday wine-tasting day from Taormina

From Taormina or Giardini Naxos, head for the north-Etna villages near Linguaglossa, Passopisciaro, Castiglione di Sicilia and Randazzo. One booked winery makes a stronger holiday day than several properties you do not know.

Example: a 29 or 30 December wine day

• Morning: leave Taormina after checking the road and the local forecast, with time for the scenic drive to north Etna.
• Late morning: arrive at a winery with a written tasting confirmation. Ask whether the tour starts indoors and includes the cellar.
• Lunch: eat at the winery only if lunch is included and confirmed; otherwise book a restaurant in a nearby village whose holiday hours you have checked.
• Early afternoon: a wine village or photos in daylight, weather permitting.
• Return: head back to the coast before it gets dark, around 4:40 pm.

If no winery confirms a place, do not drive to north Etna hoping to walk in. Move the tasting to another day or plan something else.

For the wider logistics, see Etna wine tours from Taormina.

How to plan a holiday wine-tasting day from Catania

From Catania, you can book a tasting on the east or southeast slopes, around Viagrande or Santa Venerina, or take a longer driver-led trip to north Etna.

A simple Catania plan

1. Confirm the winery first. Ask about the date, start time, language, indoor space and whether lunch is included.
2. Then book transport. For a winery outside the city, use a booked driver, a tour or a designated driver. Holiday bus timetables differ from the weekday schedule.
3. Keep volcano sightseeing optional. On a clear day a low viewpoint makes a good extra stop. Do not expect a high crater excursion as part of a cellar visit.
4. Leave time for the return. Winter afternoons are short, and mountain roads get slippery in bad weather.

For Catania visitors in particular: Etna Urban Winery is closed from 15 December to 15 January, so it cannot be your last-minute option over the holidays.

Our wine tours from Catania page compares city-based tastings with longer volcano-and-wine days.

Can you combine Etna sightseeing with a Christmas wine tasting?

Yes, if both parts are running, but expect the mountain part to change. The vineyard slopes, the coast and the high volcano have different weather, and a mild afternoon in Catania says little about walking conditions higher up.

A late-December day can bring rain, wind, snow or ice at altitude. Operators may change the crater route for weather or local restrictions. That does not automatically cancel a lower winery visit, but check the two parts separately.

If wine comes first, choose an indoor cellar tasting and treat the scenery as a bonus. If a snowy volcano comes first, book a guided winter mountain activity and the tasting as a separate booking. For the mountain, bring warm layers, a waterproof shell and proper footwear, and follow your guide’s advice. See Go-Etna’s winter clothing guidance.

What should you do on Christmas Day if wineries are closed?

Do not plan Christmas Day around a winery visit. Make 25 December a slow day and book your tasting for 22–23 or 27–30 December.

Depending on where you stay, book a Christmas lunch well ahead, walk through a town or village if the weather allows, or take a scenic drive that needs no winery. Restaurants, sights and public transport keep holiday schedules too, so check each one; Christmas Day does not work like a normal Sunday.

If you are marking a special occasion and want a tasting on 25 December, ask local operators about a private event. Treat any offer as unconfirmed until you have the venue, host, hours and total price in writing.

How much does an Etna wine tasting cost over the holidays?

Prices depend on the estate and the format: a cellar tasting, a food pairing, a lunch, a private guide and a transport-inclusive day are different products. A private holiday opening may cost extra, but ask before assuming a surcharge.

At Palmento Costanzo, the standard tastings start at €50 (Welcome Di Sei), €65 (Through our Contrade), €75 (Palmento at the Table) and €80 (Here we are at Santo Spirito) per person. Donnafugata charges €35 for Etna da bere and €45 for Brunch Etneo, and Murgo €60 for five wines with lunch and the cellar tour. These are standard prices that do not guarantee a holiday slot, and transfers are extra.

When you compare a holiday tour with booking an estate directly, ask for the total per person including transfer, tasting, food, supplements and cancellation terms. Our Etna wine tour price guide compares the formats.

Seven questions to ask the winery or operator

A short written enquiry can save a wasted drive in Christmas week. Ask:

1. Is a guided tasting available on my exact date? Give the day, year and number of people.
2. Is it the full visit or only the wine shop? This matters on 24 and 31 December, when some shops open for the morning only.
3. What time does the tasting start and finish? Ask about last entry and reduced holiday hours.
4. Is the cellar tour indoors? Check for a rainy-day version.
5. Does the booking include food? A snack pairing, a full lunch and a restaurant table are different things.
6. How do we reach the estate? Confirm the meeting point, pickup and the ride back.
7. What happens if the winery closes or the weather changes the route? Ask for the cancellation, rescheduling and replacement policy.

A sample message: “Hello, we are visiting Sicily on 29 December 2026 and would like a guided tasting for two adults at around 11:00. Is the winery tour and tasting available on that date, or only the wine shop? Please confirm the price, duration, language, food options and cancellation terms. Thank you.”

Frequently asked questions

Are Mount Etna wineries open on Christmas Day?

No ordinary visits. Donnafugata and Palmento Costanzo both close on 25 December. Another estate might host a private event, but only with direct confirmation.

Can I book an Etna wine tasting on 24 December 2026?

Only if a winery confirms it. Donnafugata’s shop is open until 1 pm on Christmas Eve, which does not confirm a guided tasting. Ask for a tasting time in writing.

Are wineries open on 26 December?

Some may be, but 26 December is a public holiday in Italy. Donnafugata is closed. Check other estates for that date; a Saturday opening rule does not override the holiday.

Is 27 December a good day for a Mount Etna wine tour?

It can be. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday. A winery that takes Sunday appointments may work, but confirm availability directly.

Are there Etna wine tastings on New Year’s Eve?

Possibly, in the morning. Donnafugata’s shop opens until 1 pm, and other estates may shorten hours or close. Plan a daytime visit only once a winery confirms a tasting time.

Can I go wine tasting on 1 January 2027?

Do not count on it. Donnafugata and Palmento Costanzo are closed, Gambino’s closure begins that day, and Etna Urban Winery’s annual break runs to 15 January.

What about 6 January, Epiphany?

It is a public holiday in Italy, and Donnafugata is closed. Other estates set their own rules, so check before you travel.

Is the Etna Wine Bus running at Christmas 2026?

No. The Sicilian Region’s tourism listing gives 20 December 2026 as the last date of the season, and the operator runs on Wednesdays and Sundays only.

Which is better for a Christmas wine tour: Taormina or Catania?

Taormina for the north-Etna wine villages, Catania for estates on the east and southeast slopes. Neither guarantees a holiday tasting. Start from a confirmed winery, then look at travel time and pickup.

Should I choose a private wine tour over Christmas?

A private tour makes transport and timing easier, but it cannot get you into a closed estate. Make sure the provider confirms a named winery, the tasting and the backup plan before you book.

Does snow stop all Etna wine tastings?

No. The high volcano and the lower wineries have different conditions. Bad weather can affect mountain roads and outdoor parts, so check with both the estate and your transport.

Book the winery, then the date

Christmas is a good time to taste Etna Rosso, Etna Bianco and the wines of the north and east slopes, provided you treat Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and the public holidays around them as days off for the wineries.

For Christmas 2026 to New Year 2027, aim first for 22–23 or 29–30 December, then try 27 December. Confirm a tasting and its start time before you book the transfer. Do not plan on Gambino or Etna Urban Winery for early January, and remember that the Etna Wine Bus season ends on 20 December 2026.

For the rest of December, our guide to Etna wine tasting in December covers the weather, daylight and day plans. For the wider season, see the best time for an Etna wine tour and our comparison of Mount Etna wineries.

Sources

Visitor information checked on 6 November 2026. These are published schedules; only a booking confirms a place.

• Donnafugata Etna, English visitor page and Italian visitor page: hours, tasting times and holiday closures
• Palmento Costanzo, tours and tastings: tastings, prices, hours and Christmas/New Year’s Day closures
• Gambino Vini, tasting bookings: no tastings 1 January–16 March
• Etna Urban Winery, official site: hours and annual break, 15 December–15 January
• Planeta, experiences: March–October season; off-season visits on request for private events or large groups
• Murgo, Tenuta San Michele restaurant: winter lunch service and tasting menus
• Tornatore, visits and tastings: tasting formats and booking
• Benanti, hospitality: visiting days and reservations
• Visit Sicily, Etna Wine Route: 2026 Etna Wine Bus season to 20 December
• Etna Wine Bus, operator: Wednesday and Sunday departures, price and booking
• Go-Etna, winter clothing advice