Which Mount Etna Wineries Are Open in Winter?

1. Donnafugata Etna: one of the clearest published winter schedules

Where: Contrada Statella, Randazzo, on the northern side of Mount Etna.

Donnafugata is a good starting point for winter planning because its official Etna visitor page publishes seasonal hours, standard tasting times and exceptions, not just an invitation to get in touch.

The estate lists:

• Regular visiting days: Every day except Monday.
• November–December hours: 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–18:00.
• January–July hours: 10:30–13:00 and 15:00–18:00.
• Published tasting start times: 11:00, 13:00, 16:00 and 17:30.
• Reservation: Required.

Its published closure list includes 1–2 November; 8, 24–26 and 31 December; 1–2 and 6 January; and 13–27 January, as well as other dates outside winter. These are the dates the winery shows now; reconfirm them for 2026–27, particularly for a February or late-December visit.

Why choose it in winter? The visit is a guided tour of the winery and the barrel cellar with a tasting, all of it away from the exposed upper mountain. Randazzo also works well for a north-Etna wine-country day.

Who should book? Visitors who want a clearly published visiting policy, set tasting times and a direct reservation contact. Do not turn up without a confirmed slot.

2. Palmento Costanzo: historic cellar, published daily opening

Where: Contrada Santo Spirito, near Passopisciaro, north Etna.

Palmento Costanzo appeals in winter for a reason that has little to do with the weather: its restored palmento, a traditional Sicilian winemaking building, is part of the visit. A cellar-focused visit is a good alternative to a long vineyard walk on a chilly afternoon.

The winery’s official Wine & Food Experience page states:

• Open: Daily, 10:00–18:30.
• Closed: Christmas, New Year’s Day and Easter.
• Wine-and-food visit times: 11:30 and 13:30.
• Booking: Select a specific date and experience through the estate’s booking system.

The winery also lists shorter tastings of its Etna DOC wines on its tours and tastings page. The page gives general hours and does not say whether any January or February dates are closed, so check the live booking calendar for your date.

Best for: Visitors who want a historic setting, an indoor tasting and a structured north-Etna stop. In the shortest winter days, a late-morning or early-afternoon appointment makes more sense than an outdoor sunset programme.

3. Benanti: a reservation-based option near Catania

Where: Via Giuseppe Garibaldi 361, Viagrande, on Etna’s southeastern foothills.

Benanti’s official hospitality page lists visits Tuesday–Sunday, upon reservation. The visit may include historic buildings, a traditional palmento, cellar rooms and a guided tasting of the estate’s wines, with parts of the route outside.

That weekly schedule makes Benanti a good winter enquiry, particularly if you are staying in Catania, but it does not establish that every public holiday or January date is available. Contact the estate and ask it to confirm the date, time and type of tasting.

Best for: People who want to learn about Etna’s grapes and different slopes without travelling all the way round to the north side of the volcano. As with other winter estates, ask whether the outdoor part changes in bad weather.

4. Murgo: winter lunch is different from winter dinner

Where: Tenuta San Michele, near Santa Venerina on east Etna.

Murgo suits a winter wine-and-food lunch. Its official restaurant page states that November through April follows winter hours: the restaurant normally closes in the evening unless a group of at least 20 people has booked in advance.

The estate also advertises guided tastings, wine-and-food menus and a winery tour by reservation. The official tasting page lists three winery-tour slots, 11:00, 12:30 and 15:00, subject to prior booking.

Read these two together: a restaurant listed as “open” may not be serving dinner in February, and a restaurant table does not necessarily secure the winery tour. Confirm both with Murgo.

Best for: Travellers based in Catania or exploring the east side who want a proper meal and Etna wines, including the estate’s sparkling wines. A midday booking is the simpler winter choice.

5. Tornatore: tasting experiences listed, dates to check

Where: Castiglione di Sicilia area, north Etna.

Tornatore’s official tours and tastings page describes several options: a classic tasting, a tasting with local cheeses and cured meats, a contrada-wine session and more specialised experiences.

It suits first-time visitors because a guided cellar tasting can introduce Etna Bianco, Etna Rosato and Etna Rosso at the same estate. However, the programme page alone is not proof that the winery has an open public slot every winter day.

Before committing: Open the reservation calendar or contact Tornatore. Ask whether the standard tasting runs on your date, whether it includes the cellar, and whether any vineyard or 4×4 element depends on the weather.

Tornatore also sells a cellar tour with four wines and a tasting board on GetYourGuide for $56. The listing is new, with a single 5★ review so far, so read its calendar and inclusions closely.

Best for: An organised introduction to north-Etna wines, once your winter appointment is confirmed.

6. Cottanera: contact the estate for specialist visits

Where: Castiglione di Sicilia, north Etna.

Cottanera publishes guided experiences that connect its wines with the history and volcanic landscapes of the northern slopes. Its selected-vintages experience includes the cellar, vineyard areas and a tasting of wines from different vintages, with an enquiry form and hospitality contact.

That page does not give a November–February schedule. An enquiry is not a confirmed visit, so ask for a written reply before hiring a driver or building a two-winery day around Cottanera.

Best for: Wine enthusiasts interested in terroir and older vintages, especially those who can organise a private appointment.

7. Barone di Villagrande: ask about seasonal tasting and lunch dates

Where: Milo, east Etna.

Barone di Villagrande is a strong choice if Etna Bianco and Carricante are your priorities. The winery’s hospitality page advertises guided tastings and seasonal food pairings, with advance reservations required.

However, a booking phone number and restaurant hours are not a list of available November, December, January and February tasting dates. Before setting off for Milo, confirm that the cellar tour, guided tasting and kitchen are all running on the same day.

Best for: A food-led, east-Etna wine day for visitors staying around Catania, Acireale or the eastern coast.

8. Planeta Sciaranuova: not a standard winter tasting stop

Where: Sciaranuova, near Passopisciaro, north Etna.

Planeta’s official experiences FAQ is explicit, and the policy covers all of the company’s estates, Sciaranuova included: the normal hospitality season is 1 March–31 October, generally Monday through Saturday mornings; the wineries are closed to regular visitors on Sundays and public holidays.

For November through February, the company says it may arrange openings on request for private events or large groups.

A visitor looking for a standard two-person tasting in January should not assume that Sciaranuova is working as a public tasting venue. If you are organising a large private group, you can still enquire about a special opening.

Planeta also states that, during its visiting season, the outdoor itinerary may change in bad weather while the tasting continues indoors. That helps in March, but it does not override the winter closure.

9. Gambino Vini: check the winter shutdown before booking a Taormina tour

Where: Contrada Petto Dragone, near Linguaglossa, northeast Etna.

Gambino is popular for its vineyard views and tasting-with-food experiences, including tours from the Taormina area. But it is not a year-round default.

Its official tasting page states that tastings cannot be booked from 1 January to 16 March, because the winery will be closed.

That means:

• November and December: Check the estate’s dated booking calendar and holiday exceptions.
• January and February: Do not plan a tasting at Gambino under the published closure policy.
• March: The closure continues until 16 March; confirm the first available opening date.

For November, December or late March, the estate’s own four-wine Etna Nord tasting at Linguaglossa costs $47 for about 90 minutes, 4.85★ from 55 reviews. The Taormina half-day tasting ($67, 4.70★ from 677 reviews) adds the minibus from Taormina; its listing names only “a regional winery” at Linguaglossa, its reviewers name Gambino, and it says nothing about January to mid-March, so check its calendar for those weeks before you plan around it.

If a travel site still suggests Gambino for February, follow the winery’s own calendar. A tour advertised year-round may switch to another venue or have no departures on those dates; check the named estate and the date before booking.

Which Etna wineries should you try by month?

Treat these as shortlists to enquire with; none of them means a booking is available today. For December 2026–February 2027, check each estate’s published policy against its live booking calendar.

Are Etna wineries open over Christmas and New Year?

Some have dates between the holidays; the main holiday dates themselves are less reliable. The clearest published examples are Donnafugata’s closures on 24–26 and 31 December and 1–2 January, and Palmento Costanzo’s closure on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Do not assume that an estate open on 23 December is also open on 26 December. A winery may also keep its wine shop open while tours, guided tastings or the restaurant are closed.

For a holiday trip, the safest order is:

1. Choose a winery with a published winter visitor policy.
2. Check your exact date with the winery and get written confirmation.
3. Ask whether the tasting, cellar tour and lunch are all running.
4. Arrange transport only after the winery reservation is secure.
5. Keep a backup plan such as a restaurant wine tasting or a visit to a town in the foothills.

North, east or southeast Etna: where should you go in winter?

From Taormina or Giardini Naxos: start with north Etna

A wine-focused route runs towards Linguaglossa, Castiglione di Sicilia, Passopisciaro and Randazzo. In winter, choose by which one or two estates can confirm the appointment, not by the number of winery names on a map.

For example, a Donnafugata tasting around Randazzo or a Palmento Costanzo appointment around Passopisciaro can anchor the day. Add another winery only after both have confirmed suitable times. If your preferred tour names Gambino, remember its published January–mid-March tasting closure.

For transport options and tour formats, see our Etna wine tours from Taormina guide.

From Catania: consider Viagrande or east Etna

A Benanti reservation in Viagrande is easier to fit into a short day than the drive to the far north of the volcano. Alternatively, look into a booked Murgo lunch near Santa Venerina or a seasonal tasting in Milo.

For a breakdown of departures, see Mount Etna wine tours from Catania.

If you are driving yourself

Choose one slope, aim for one confirmed winery or at most two, and allow generous time between appointments. Wine routes on Etna follow winding mountain roads; distances that look short on a map can still take a long time to drive.

Someone in your party must stay fit to drive and keep to local drink-driving rules. If everyone wants a full tasting, book a tour with transport or a private driver. Our self-drive Etna winery guide discusses the trade-offs.

How to book an Etna winter tasting without surprises

Before paying, get answers to these seven questions:

1. Will the tasting room be open on [day, date, year]? Avoid asking only whether the estate is “open in winter.”
2. Is it a private booking, public group, or independent cellar visit? Minimum group sizes can apply.
3. Which wine experience is available? A standard four-wine tasting may run when the premium lunch does not.
4. Will the tasting take place indoors? Ask what happens to vineyard walks if it rains or snows.
5. Is the cellar tour included? A restaurant visit or wine-bar tasting does not always include one.
6. Are transfers included? Especially important for visitors without a car or with hotel pickup requests.
7. What happens if weather or the estate’s schedule changes? Check refunds, rescheduling and alternative winery rules.

A simple enquiry you can send to a winery

Hello, we will be visiting Sicily on [date] and would like to book a wine tasting for [number] people. Do you offer winery visits on that date? We are interested in a cellar tour and tasting, ideally indoors if the weather is poor. Could you please confirm available times, price per person, whether food is included, and the cancellation policy? Thank you.

Write in English if you prefer; many of the larger Etna estates publish English-language visitor information.

Can you book a winter Etna wine tour through an operator?

Yes, some guided experiences run during winter, but an advertised tour is not proof that a named winery is open. If you book an excursion from Taormina or Catania, check:

• The departure date offered in the booking calendar.
• The named winery, if visiting a specific producer matters to you.
• Whether the operator can substitute a different estate.
• The amount of wine tasting versus volcano sightseeing.
• Whether lunch and pickup are included.

If the listing says only “local winery” or “wine tasting stop,” it does not guarantee Benanti, Donnafugata, Gambino or any other named estate. You may prefer a tour that guarantees the type of visit over the particular producer, such as the food-and-wine day from Taormina, which visits a family-run winery for a cellar tour and a tasting with food ($200, six hours, 4.85★ from 455 reviews).

Compare formats on our best Etna wine tours page and read the Etna wine tours in winter guide for weather and itinerary trade-offs.

Frequently asked questions

Are Mount Etna wineries open in December?

Some are. Donnafugata publishes November–December visiting hours, subject to its holiday closures, while Palmento Costanzo publishes daily opening with specific exceptions. Benanti and Murgo are also worth contacting for a dated booking. Do not assume Christmas-week availability without confirmation.

Are Mount Etna wineries open in January?

Some tasting appointments are possible, but January needs more checking than autumn. Donnafugata lists a 13–27 January shutdown; Gambino is closed from 1 January to 16 March; Planeta keeps winter visits for private events and large groups. Ask Palmento Costanzo, Benanti or Murgo about your date, but do not treat an enquiry as confirmed availability.

Which Etna wineries are open in February?

Donnafugata publishes an all-year visitor policy and Palmento Costanzo lists regular opening hours. Benanti and Murgo can be contacted for booked winter visits. Gambino’s published closure runs until 16 March, and Planeta’s ordinary visitor season starts on 1 March. Confirm February dates one by one before travelling.

Is Gambino Winery open in February?

No. According to Gambino Vini’s official tasting page, no tastings can be booked from 1 January to 16 March because the winery is closed. Check for updated dates in case the policy changes.

Can I visit Planeta’s Etna winery in January?

Planeta says its normal visiting season runs from 1 March to 31 October. From November to February, special visits may be arranged on request for private events or large groups. Do not expect a standard individual tasting in January.

Do I need to book Etna wineries in advance in winter?

Yes. Even a winery that publishes regular opening hours may require reservations for guided tastings. Other wineries work by appointment or cut their visiting hours in winter. A confirmed reservation is much safer than arriving unannounced.

Are winery tastings indoors in winter?

Many estates have indoor tasting rooms, cellars or covered spaces, but packages vary. Confirm where the tasting takes place and whether outdoor walks are optional or depend on the weather. A cellar visit is usually easier to plan in winter than a terrace picnic.

Can I visit two Etna wineries in one winter day?

Yes, if both appointments are confirmed and the estates are on the same side of the mountain. In December and January, short daylight and uncertain weather make one good visit plus lunch a better plan than a rushed list of unconfirmed stops.

Is it worth doing an Etna wine tour without visiting the volcano summit?

Yes. Etna’s wines, old lava terraces, palmenti, local food and cellar visits make a full day without the high-altitude craters. The summit and higher mountain routes are separate activities with their own weather and access restrictions.

Bottom line: choose the date first, not the winery name

For a winter Etna wine tasting, start with estates that publish a clear visitor policy, such as Donnafugata and Palmento Costanzo. Benanti and Murgo are good places to ask about an appointment. Tornatore, Cottanera and Barone di Villagrande are worth considering, but their hospitality pages are not winter calendars. Planeta opens Sciaranuova to regular visitors from March to October only, and Gambino closes from 1 January to 16 March.

One confirmed indoor tasting at a winery you want to visit beats a two-stop itinerary built on assumptions. Check the calendar, secure transport and leave some room for Etna’s winter weather.

For broader suggestions, browse our best wineries on Mount Etna guide or compare wine-tour formats and prices.

Official winery sources and verification notes

Last checked: 3 November 2026. Policies, holiday exceptions, menus and prices may change. All hours below are the estates’ published policies; only a booking confirms a slot.

1. Donnafugata: Etna visits, hours and closures
2. Palmento Costanzo: Wine & Food Experience, hours and holiday closures
3. Benanti: hospitality hours and reservations
4. Murgo: San Michele restaurant winter hours
5. Murgo: visits and tasting reservations
6. Tornatore: tours and tastings
7. Cottanera: wine experience and enquiry
8. Barone di Villagrande: wine tourism and contact
9. Planeta: experiences, visitor-season FAQ and winter group policy
10. Gambino Vini: tasting reservations and seasonal closure notice