Sicily has had something of a rocky road in the Italian wine industry. Long respected as a wonderful wine region, Sicily went through something of a downward period during the latter half of the 20th century. The island developed a reputation for mass-producing standard table wines, with this focus on quantity often taking away from the quality wines that Sicily produced.
The 21st century has seen a turnaround in that reputation. Today, people rightly see Sicily as one of the country’s best wine regions. Its producers have played a huge role in that transformation, with many of Sicily’s winemakers specifically focusing on making great wines.
As an Italian wine lover, you may want to visit Sicily to experience its culture, food, and wine for yourself. This quick guide covers the things you have to do when you go to this wonderful location.
Engage in Wine Tours
Sicily’s wonderful wine producers a rightly proud of all of the hard work they’ve put into transforming the region’s reputation. And when you visit, you’ll have the opportunity to see the rolling vineyards that are responsible for some amazing Sicilian wines. Plenty of producers allow tourists onto their estates, giving you a first-hand experience of what it takes to create wine.
By the time this article goes live, the Italian wine harvest season will be all but over. But in a few months, Sicily’s producers will be hard at work again, giving you the perfect opportunity to visit. Try to time your trip somewhere between March and September to make the most of any visit to a Sicilian winery.
Try Some Show Cooking
Sicilian cuisine is heavily based on the traditional Mediterranean diet, which has many health and longevity benefits. It’s also just very good food.
There are plenty of restaurants you can visit if you want to get a taste of what Sicily has to offer. But if you’d like to learn how to create some Sicilian dishes yourself, a show cooking session is the way to go.
What is show cooking?
It’s essentially a cooking class where you get to watch a Sicilian chef in action before you join them to prepare a dish yourself. They often feature lessons that are tailor-made to what you want to achieve, allowing you to get the true Sicilian food experience. You may even learn about some wonderful Italian wines to pair with your new dishes.
Show cooking classes take place all over Sicily, including in restaurants, wineries, and even farmhouses. Take the opportunity to engross yourself in Sicily’s beautiful food culture.
Spend a Day in Palermo
Palermo is the capital of Sicily and it’s a stunning city filled with history and architectural delights. This should come as no surprise as Palermo is over 2,700 years old. History buffs will find something to excite them around every corner. Plus, the Teatro Massimo is the best place to visit if you’d like to catch a show.
Of course, there are also the many restaurants and street food vendors in the city to enjoy, giving you a taste of the classic Sicilian diet. And if you want to rest your aching feet while enjoying a nice and lazy day, the stunning Mondello beach is the perfect place to relax.
Hike on Mount Etna
The volcanic Mount Etna is responsible for a lot of the land that Sicilian winemakers use to produce their wines. Its eruptions have lent the soil a mineral quality that you can taste in the wines produced in the region.
You can appreciate Etna for those facts alone. Or, you could brave a hike up the mountain. Bear in mind that Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe. But assuming you visit during a quiet period, it’s a wonderful place to visit. Mount Etna National Park spans 20 towns and over 220 square miles. You’ll get to see volcanic craters, stunning vineyards, and beautiful natural scenery. And if you’re feeling especially courageous, you can even ski down the mountain! Guided tours also take people to the volcano’s summit, where the views are absolutely stunning.
Swim in the Alcantara Gorge
One of the best things about the Alcantara Gorge is that it’s not a huge tourist attraction. Many people don’t even know it exists, though it’s a wonderful place to visit. After a hike up the gorge, you’ll have a chance to climb down to the beautiful cool waters below.
If you really feel adventurous, you can also go canyoning in the gorge. However, we only recommend this to experienced canyoners as it’s a dangerous activity that shouldn’t be tried by amateurs.
Take a Street Food Tour
We mentioned the street food vendors and the wonderful show cooking classes already. But if you’re a true foodie, a quick visit to a vendor isn’t going to be enough. You’ll want to experience everything that you can.
Sicily is famous for the quality of its street food. So much so that guided tours of street food vendors are available in several of Sicily’s largest cities. Palermo and Catania both have these types of tours, as do many smaller towns and cities. We recommend trying a cannoli, some panelle, granita, and so much more!
The Final Word
There are always opportunities to enjoy great wine, food, and culture, no matter where you go in Italy. But there’s something a little different about Sicily. As a small island off the mainland, Sicily offers something different from many other areas of Italy. You’ll see that in several ways, with the architecture, culture, and overall vibe having some definite differences.
These differences only make Sicily all the more attractive. And when you combine its wines with wonderful foods, the stunning scenery, and the majestic Mount Etna, you have a vacation that will live in the memory for years to come.
Of course, not all of us have the opportunity to visit Sicily. But with Xtrawine, you’ll always have a chance to enjoy Sicilian wines. Browse our collection today and you’ll find plenty of examples to sample.
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