Wine Tasting in Catania: 9 Places You Have to Try

Nestled at the foot of Mount Etna, Catania is the second-largest city in Sicily, whose history is shaped by the ever-present volcano. Volcanic eruptions devastated the city on many occasions, including the 1669 eruption. It produced lava flows that destroyed villages and overwhelmed the city of Catania. However, the city’s proximity to Etna also means highly fertile volcanic soil, perfect for growing citrus fruits, fruit trees, vegetables, and grapes.

The mountain’s immediate slopes provide fertile grounds for orchards and vineyards, producing some of the best wines in the world. The Catania area, including the macro part of Mount Etna, has successfully produced Etna Rosso DOC for decades. Born in 1968, the Etna DOC was the first DOC in the Sicily region and one of the oldest in Italy.

No trip to this Sicilian area will be complete without a wine tour and tasting authentic Etna wine paired with delicious Sicilian food. You can also visit rooftop bars and shops that offer the best wine tasting in Catania if you’re looking for fun things to do at night in the city. If you plan to arrive early, drop off your bags at Catania Bounce luggage storage to experience the most authentic Sicilian tradition without burden.

Razmataz

Razmataz is a wine bar and restaurant in the heart of the Metropolitan City of Catania. Just a few steps away from Via Etnea, the main street of the city’s historical center, this high-end wine bar promises homely happiness by offering an array of cellar treasures you’ll enjoy any time of the day (and night).

If you’re feeling hungry, come for lunch or dinner. The kitchen is always open to provide patrons with a welcoming place where you can refuel and refresh yourself while touring around the city center. Among the favorite dishes served here include lasagna, lemon meatballs, fried dumplings, risotto, and more. For more on what to eat in Catania, see our guide here.

For wine lovers, there’s a good selection of local wines to match your taste and budget. The wine bar boasts about 200 wines, including French and other international wines. And no matter what food you order, there’s a perfect wine that goes well with it. That’s because Razmataz carefully matches the wines to the dishes on the menu. There are small wine tastings, too, allowing you to taste an array of flavorful Etna wines from the cellar.

Location: Via Montesano 19, 95131

Cru Enoteca

Just a six-minute drive from Teatro Metropolitan, a performing arts theater in Catania, Cru Enoteca is a wine bar offering a wide selection of delicious Sicilian wines and more. It focuses on the wines you’ll find in the Etna volcano region, so if you’re curious about the flavor and taste of Etna wines, this is a great place worth considering.

Additionally, Cru Enoteca has a light lunch and dinner menu. They have a tasty variety of cold cuts, bruschettas with anchovies and stracciatella, fresh salads, and amazing appetizers to complement your wine tasting experience. Its gastronomic selection changes every week, so you can expect something new every time you visit.

Its extremely knowledgeable and friendly staff will create the perfect wine and food pairings so you’ll leave feeling satisfied. The ambiance is also warm and inviting, which will make you want to come back for more.

Location: Via Pacini, 8, 95124 Catania

Enoteca Regionale di Sicilia

Discover the story and passion behind every bottle at Enoteca Regionale di Sicilia. While it’s a small wine shop and bar, this place won’t disappoint you, especially if you’re looking for authentic Sicilian wines. It specializes in local wines and food products from small farms and niche wineries.

The indoor space is warm, cozy, and feels like a home away from home. But many customers love the outdoor seating with a refreshing and friendly vibe. The retro tables and chairs add to the charming atmosphere, as well as pots of greenery and flowers.

Enoteca Regionale di Sicilia also includes a wine tasting space, where you can sample sparkling wines, local reds, and whites. If you’re lucky, you might have the chance to join historical and cultural tours that the owners regularly organize. It’s a wonderful opportunity to sightsee while learning about Sicily’s culture, history, and cuisine.

While there, browse through its range of unique products you can take home as souvenirs or gift items. Aside from the wines and liqueurs, you can also purchase sauces, jams, pistachio, olives, and other food items sourced locally.

Location: Via Vittorio Emanuele II 155, Catania

Best Wine Tastings and Winery Tours in Catania

Are you feeling more adventurous and want to take your wine tasting experience to the next level? If so, make the most of the best wine tours and vineyard and winery visits in the city and beyond. Discover the wineries, sample tasty local whites, reds, and rosés, and munch on local delicacies at a wine and food tasting in Catania.

Etna Urban Winery

Taste four unique Etna wines and learn about Sicily’s Etna wine-making history by visiting an urban vineyard at Etna Urban Winery. It is located in Provincia di Catania, about 12 minutes’ drive from the metropolis.

Different activities await you at this urban winery. You can take the vineyard trail and explore the vineyard at your own pace on a self-guided tour, or walk through an olive grove and one of the few oak forests in the area. There’s also gourmet tasting where you can enjoy high-quality wines grown on the slopes of Mount Etna. Along with these is a lovely selection of gourmet food crafted by the exceptional local chef Carlo Sichel.

You don’t have to leave your little ones behind on a wine tour. Etna Urban Winery also ensures children can have their own fun by finding the stone animals hidden around the winery. Turn it into a treasure hunting game to keep them entertained.

Pick from different packages, including a winery tour and wine tastings with food pairings for less than $50 and a tour and wine tasting with food pairings plus a light lunch for about $60 per person. There’s also a cheaper lunch and self-tour, wine tasting with food pairing, and spectacular sunset tasting. Make sure you book in advance and mention your food intolerance or special food requirements.

Location: Via Catira, 40, 95027 San Gregorio di Catania CT

Cantine Nicosia

Cantine Nicosia is your one-stop destination if you’re looking to buy local wines, visit a vineyard, and participate in food and wine tastings in Catania. One vineyard is located in Trecastagni, a comune in the Metropolitan City of Catania, but it also has a shop in the city, close to Piazza Duomo. Besides the ones within the Catania area, there are also vineyards in neighboring cities like Ragusa and Noto you can check out.

Etna wine tasting and guided cellar tours are available for individuals, schools, and companies. They can last from one to two hours, depending on the activities you pick. For instance, a guided winery tour and a visit to the oak barrels cellar underground with a tasting of four Etna wines with cheeses, cold cuts, and other Etna food may last an hour for less than $30.

No matter which program you pick, keep in mind that wine tastings and guided tours are only available by reservation. If you want to know what to expect, you can take the virtual tour and marvel at the stunning wineries and the spacious wine-making area.

Location: Via Luigi Capuana, 65, 95039 Trecastagni, CT

Cantine Privitera

Cantine Privitera is a wine lover’s paradise, offering an outstanding selection of wines, including sweet dessert wines, sparkling wines, and IGT Terre Siciliane wines. They also sell local products, such as decoration bottles, honey, sauces, jams, and more.

The Privitera Company is an institution with a long history of wine growing and production. It’s been around since 1929 when Alfio Privitera planted the first vineyards in Zafferana Etnea, a quaint village on the slopes of Mount Etna.

If you want to taste and buy quality wine in Catania, the Privitera Cellars are a great place to start. You can ensure you’re getting great wines made by following the best wine-making techniques to preserve the ancient flavors you’ll love.

Location: Via Nino Martoglio, 33, 95030 Gravina di Catania CT

Gambino Winery

Discover new colors and tastes and find artisan wines that perfectly capture the Sicilian spirit and vibrant flavors at Gambino Winery. It is based in Linguaglossa, a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Catania, located in the northern part of Mt. Etna, an active volcano overlooking the vast Mediterranean Sea.

As you arrive, you’ll be greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable staff who will explain the territory and the winery history. Then you will be guided through the wine tasting space with the sommelier team to help you understand their unique wine labels.

During the wine tasting, you’ll have the opportunity to taste four glasses of wine from their current vintage, local cold cuts, vegetable preserves, a selection of Sicilian cheeses, olive oil by Gambino, and more. You can book the Only Wine Menu or the Wine Tasting Full Menu, which includes more Sicilian food and dessert.

Location: Contrada Petto Dragone, 95015 Linguaglossa CT

Azienda Agricola Puglisi

Located in Zafferana Etnea, in the province of Catania, about half an hour from the city, Azienda Agricola Puglisi is a winery with vineyards distributed on two sides of Mt. Etna. Its largest vineyard is on the northern side of the volcano, offering the greatest wine production. On the east side is the smaller vineyard, about 300 meters from the winery.

Azienda Agricola Puglisi offers wine tastings and vineyard tours, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the ancient Etnean traditions of producing good wines. It will enable visitors to discover the unique flavors of Etna and Sicily by taking them on an unforgettable gastronomic journey with tastings of its products, including Etna Rosso DOC.

Besides wine tastings, you can also taste their honey, oil, and other products, like pesto, cheese, olive paste, cream of honey, and more. You can pick from different flavors, including eucalyptus, sulla, chestnut, millefiori, and orange honey. So if you order a bottle of wine or two, consider buying a bottle of oil or a jar of honey, too.

Location: Strada Provinciale Zafferana Milo, 21B, 95019 Zafferana Etnea CT

Vivera Etna Winery

Also located in the town of Linguaglossa, Vivera Etna Winery is a perfect place where you can come to relax and have a glass of wine. More than just a winery, Vivera allows you to be one with nature while soaking in the glorious view of the landscape and the scent of the forest nearby.

At Vivera Winery, you can stroll through the expansive Martinella vineyards and learn about the organic farming techniques that are crucial for producing well-crafted wines. As you enter the colored cellar rooms, you’ll deepen your understanding and appreciation for wine-making while savoring the rich scent of wine.

The tour and wine tastings typically last for an hour and a half. However, the entire duration of the visit may depend on how much you want to relax and know about the stories and history.

The program includes a guided tour of the terraced vineyard and the cellar and a tasting of two wines from the Corleone Collection. You can also enjoy two glasses of wine from the Etna Collection and taste their Tonda Iblea and Nocellara del Balice extra virgin olive oils with local Linguaglossa bread.

Location: Contrada Martinella, sn, 95015 Linguaglossa CT

Wine tastings and wine tours

You can’t visit Catania and not explore its expansive vineyards and iconic wineries. Whether you got an extended vacation or visiting on a long weekend, vineyard tours and wine tastings should be part of your 3 days in Catania. Consider day trips that involve wine too, and visit areas like nearby Siracusa.

Most tours only last one to two hours, so you still have a lot of time to explore other city areas. You can also visit some wine bars and stores to find local and international wines and buy gifts for loved ones at home.