SICILY
Sicily is the island of the sun, of the volcanoes, and of the ancient Gods. A trip there can become a dive in the spicier cocktail of flavours and coltures and in the more “exotic” region that Italy can offer.
Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normands, Spanishs, and other guests conquered the place and now we still enjoy the best of what they have left. The majestic Greek temples along the seaside, the citrus, and the ice creams, introduced by the Arabs, and the unusual spices that they brought here from India and China. The scenic Easter processions and the unique chocolate recipes of the Spanish rule. And, above and aroud all this, astounding landscapes, the bountiful fresher seafood, the ideal, real, Mediterranean cuisine.

The wines are rich, warm, generous, Sicily is undergoing one of the best ages. It is probably the first of the emerging wine regions, improving the quality and refining the traditional styles.
A full trip in Sicily should take two weeks at least. We can propose nothing less han an 8 days itinerary. The western part, where the Phoenicians settled first, and the Arabs later, shows an incredible, wind swept African type landscape. It seems to be the more Sicilain Sicily, away from the rest of Italy and Euope, with the scent of Africa in the air. Starting from Palermo, our first experience will be the aromatic, saltish sometimes, Bianco d’Alcamo, great with seafood, then the severe, mysterious Marsalas of the best and more ancient estates. Then, moving towards the central southern coast, after a walk in one of the more classic and impressive Greek sites, Selinunte or the Agrigento Valley of the Temples, we try the great Nero d’Avola and other powerful red wines in some of the more amazing, Sicilian wineries, hidden in the less explored regions of the island.

Eastern Sicily, instead, boasts more celebrated, elegant and, in the summer, more touristic zones. This area has a Greek, and more romantic atmosphere. The pearls of the Ionian coast and the highlight of our tour are the wonderful Syracuse and its beautiful inland areas and parks, the Etna Volcano, on the lava slopes of which we taste some of the richer Etna Rosso wines, and eventually, high on a sheer cliff facing the sea, Taormina.
In this cosmopolitan, sophisticated center, famous since the Grand Tour times, we get to the conclusion of our tour. Relaxing and shopping in the streets, or enjoying the lazy dolcevita at one of the nicer caffées along the road, and taking our great last dinner in Sicily.

Our favourite wineries:
Donnafugata, Fazio, Barone del Murgo, Planeta, Rallo, Rapitalà, Spadafora.