The Etna Wine Route

Impressive landscapes, delightful villages, rich gastronomy and traditional family-run wineries lauded for producing highly regarded red and white blends make Mount Etna an attractive destination for wine lovers in Sicily.

The slopes of Europe’s highest active volcano boast a unique terroir that makes them one of Italy’s top wine-producing districts. Etna’s soft, black soil has been made particularly fertile by the volcanic ashes, which infuse energy and vitality into the grapes. The result is a wine that is as characterful as the land where it comes from: the Etna DOC.

Etna DOC was the first Sicilian wine to obtain the official appellation of origin back in 1968. It’s made using four indigenous grape varieties (Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante and Catarratto) and is available in three varieties: rich red, crisp white and elegant rosé. Each blend features a complex texture produced by the unique conditions that grapes find at such high altitudes, where significant temperature variations are common between day and night.

The Etna Wine Route was designed to bring travellers closer to the genuine flavours of this beautiful corner of Sicily, which can sometimes feel overshadowed by neighbours like glamorous Taormina and lively Catania. Bend after bend, it winds through countless wineries and terraced vineyards that climb up the volcano, dazzling visitors with gorgeous views all along. And while wine is the protagonist, there are lots of other products to taste, from the famous pistachios of Bronte to the honey produced in Zafferana Etnea. 

The route can be easily explored by car, mountain bike or with the Circumetnea Railway, the historic, narrow-gauge train line dating from the 19th century. It comprises a number of enchanting villages rich in history and traditions. Randazzo, for example, is a splendid Medieval town whose cathedral was built with blocks of black lava, while in Castiglione di Sicilia one can admire a grandiose Norman castle with some truly stunning views over the Alcantara Valley. Other interesting places to visit along the Etna wine trail include the scenic hamlet of Milo and Linguaglossa, one of the few ski resorts in Sicily, where street art has turned the town center into a beautiful open air museum.