From Taormina: Etna Wineries Small Group Tour
About This Experience
Two wineries and a medieval village, in a nine-seater, with lunch. If you want the north-slope DOC rather than the volcano, this is the most complete day out of Taormina.
Pick-up is around 9:00 am and the route heads for Castiglione di Sicilia, the hill village that sits at the centre of Etna's best-regarded vineyard land. The old streets and the medieval architecture are worth the stop on their own; the wine made in the contrade around it is what the DOC is known for.
The first winery pours locally produced Etna wines with an aperitivo of local products, and you can walk out into the vines and see the fruit on the wire. The second goes further: three DOP Etna wines paired with a full lunch built on traditional products, plus a walk through the cellar and the barrels the wine you just drank came out of.
At 8.5 hours with a nine-seater cap, it sits between the shared half-days and a private hire — small enough to feel unhurried, cheap enough that most people book it over a private car.
Highlights
- Two working Etna wineries in one day, plus the medieval village of Castiglione di Sicilia
- Three DOP Etna wines paired with a full lunch at the second estate
- Aperitivo of local products with the tasting at the first
- Vineyard and cellar walks at both stops
- Small nine-seater vehicle with hotel pick-up and drop-off from Taormina
What's Included
- ✓ Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- ✓ English-speaking driver
- ✓ Wine tastings at two wineries
- ✓ Aperitivo of local products
- ✓ Full lunch with three DOP Etna wines
- ✓ Transport in a 9-seater vehicle
Not Included
- Gratuities
Good to Know & Caveats
- Pick-up is around 9:00 am and the day runs about 8.5 hours — this is a full day, not a morning.
- The operator lists this as not suitable for under-18s or for pregnant guests.
- Castiglione di Sicilia is a hill village with steep cobbled streets; wear shoes you can walk them in.
- There is no crater walk. The volcano is scenery here, not the itinerary.
Not Suitable For
- Pregnant women
- Children under 18 years
Meeting Point
Hotel pick-up in Taormina at about 9:00 am, in a 9-seater vehicle.
What Travelers Say
Rated 4.8/5 by 98 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
Our driver Fabio was fantastic! He was very friendly, upbeat, and professional. He provided us a lot of information along the way about Mount Etna and why it’s important for this region. The wineries were very authentic and beautiful! Overall it was a wonderful experience, our adult children liked it too.
— Danny, June 28
we had a fabulous day ,Riccardo was so knowledgeable of the area. and his tour of Castiglione di Sicilia was very interesting. The first winery was really fantastic and the wines were great and all quite different Where we had lunch , I have to say my vegetarian main was not so good although everyone who had the pork said it was really good and I wasn't so keen on the wines here We all had a wonderful day met some great people and would 💯 recommend it and thought it was great value for money 😊
— Lee, June 19
Our guide Roberto S was fantastic, knowledgeable and delightful.. It was a small tour of 4 people plus our guide so it was perfect.. transport was comfortable. Probably would have liked to see the wineries cellars.. but a walk through the Olive grove was interesting as they were harvesting.
— Jeanine, October
Frequently Asked Questions
How many wineries does it visit?
Two, both in the Castiglione di Sicilia area on Etna's north slope, with a tasting and aperitivo at the first and three DOP wines with a full lunch at the second.
What is Castiglione di Sicilia?
A medieval hill village on the volcano's northern side, surrounded by the contrade that produce the Etna wine with the strongest reputation. The stop is short but it is the heart of the appellation.
Can children come?
No — the operator lists the tour as unsuitable for under-18s, and also for pregnant guests. It is built around two tastings and a wine lunch.
How big is the group?
The vehicle is a nine-seater, so eight guests plus the driver at most. That is materially smaller than the coach-based full-day tours.
Is lunch included or extra?
Included, at the second winery, along with three DOP Etna wines and a walk through the cellar.
Do you go up Etna itself?
No craters and no cable car. The route stays in the vineyard belt on the north slope, which is where the wine is.
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