Getting to the Mt Etna Wine Region
The best way to get to the Mt Etna wine region is by car. Since driving a car & drinking wine are a poor combination, there are plenty of day trip opportunities that leave from Taormina and include transportation. We recommend this option through Get Your Guide for a Small Group Wine & Food Tasting* that costs ~$150 per person. It includes transportation to & from your hotel, a wine tasting with a vineyard tour and lunch. The drive can take anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour, depending on where in the region you visit! Another option to consider is booking a private driver if you have specific vineyards you want to visit. Since we were traveling with a group of 6, it was more affordable to do it that way!
Cantine Murgo 1860
Our first stop of the day was to Cantine Murgo 1860 where we sampled 5 of their wines under their terraced outdoor patio. The shade provided by the grape vines growing over the pergola made for the perfect setting to relax and enjoy.
The tasting included 1 sparkling wine, 2 Sicilian wines and 2 Etna wines. They also had a platter of cold cuts and cheeses available to snack on while we learned about our wines. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive option, they also offer a wine tasting where you can try 7 wines & get a tour of their vineyard. (For an additional cost, you can also have lunch with your tasting too!)
- Cost: €35 per person (wine tasting only)
- More Information: Murgo Wine Tasting
Gambino Winery
Our second (and final) stop of the day was to Gambino Winery. We started our visit with a tour of the vineyard & wine cellar by our knowledgeable guide. Then, we settled down at our table on their outdoor terrace overlooking the rolling hills to learn about what we were sampling.
Since it was around lunchtime, we opted for their wine tasting with food option. Our tasting consisted of four samples from their current vintage, with a spread of meats, cheeses, olive oil & bread to pick on. We also had a couscous salad with pork sausages for lunch, followed by cannoli for dessert! If you have less time, you can also opt for just the wine tasting (€29).
- Cost: €42 per person (Wine Tasting, Vineyard tour + Lunch)
- More information: Gambino Winery
Review of Mt Etna Wine Region
Overall, a trip to Taormina would not be complete without a day in the Mt Etna wine region. We were blown away by the views of the rolling hills, with Sicily’s most active volcano in the backdrop. We highly recommend booking a tour* or a private driver, so you can enjoy yourself without needing to worry about driving on the winding roads of Sicily afterwards. The volcanic soil makes this for a truly unique experience for any wine lover!
