The 3 Best Mt. Etna Wine Tours from Catania & Taormina
Sicily is synonmyous with sun-drenched beach towns, ancient hilltop cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites practically around every bend… but if you ask me, the real showstopper? The food and wine. Especially when you’re sipping authentic Italian wines on the slopes of an actual (and active!) volcano.
Of course, that volcano is none other than the ever-intimidating Mount Etna herself — the tallest active volcano in Europe and possibly the most dramatic backdrop for a wine tour you could experience.
Towering Etna looms large in the background of views near Catania and Taormina — two of Sicily’s most charming (and conveniently located) vacation spots.
Etna’s wine game is strong, and not just because of its beautiful backdrop. The location doesn’t just make the vineyards look cool — the volcanic soil feeds the vines with rich minerals that make for some incredibly complex wines (aka, terroir).
We’re talking deep, earthy reds like Etna Rosso (a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, two incredible varietals that work even better in tandem) and the ever-iconic Nero d’Avola.
And while Sicily’s better known for its red wines, don’t sleep on its white wines, primarily the Etna Biancos (made from the local indigenous varietals, Carricante and Catarrato).
The mineral-rich volcanic terroir of the Etna slopes has allowed for some pretty unique wines to emerge here, distinct from what you’d find in Tuscan Chianti region or Veneto’s Prosecco area. Italy’s wines are as diverse as its landscapes, after all!
And of course, in Italy, food and wine go hand in hand. Sicilian food is notoriously delicious — and made even more so when accompanied by local wine from the region. So it’s unsurprising that virtually all of these Etna wine tours include some lunch or at least tasting accompaniments to sweeten the deal!
So if Sicily’s on your itinerary, there’s no better way to soak it all in than by joining a Mt. Etna wine tour. You’ll get front-row views of this epic, lava-sculpted landscape (which just so happens to also be a national park) and taste your way through some of the island’s most memorable wines.
I’ll list a few different Etna wine tours below with the details of what’s included in each — but I also have listed my 3 top picks, in case you’re in a hurry and don’t want to read all my wine ramblings (as an oenophile who almost studied to become a sommelier, I have many!)
My Top 3 Picks for Etna Wine Tours
BEST FROM TAORMINA
Etna Food & Wine Tasting from Taormina
✔️ Winery tour & taste 5 different wines
✔️ Tasty Sicilian farm-to-table lunch
BEST FROM CATANIA
Etna Morning Tour and Tasting from Catania
✔️ Morning hike of Etna’s volcanic landscape
✔️ Wine tasting and light snacks (no lunch provided)
BEST PRIVATE TOUR
Private Etna Wine Tour from Catania or Taormina
✔️ Visit 3 different wineries — more than any other tour
✔️ Try unlimited amounts of 12 different wines
Top Etna Wine Tours
1. From Taormina: Etna Wine Tasting and Food Tour
⌛ Tour Length: 6 hours | 🌟 Rating: 4.8/5 stars (120+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
If you’re curious about how Etna wine rises from the ashes — literally! — this Mt. Etna wine tour is your kind of adventure.
The tour begins with a scenic ride through Sicily’s lava-sculpted landscape — along winding roads lined with olive and lemon groves, passing by traditional stone houses built right from the volcanic stones themselves.
Your first stop? A charming, family-run winery tucked right into Etna’s foothills. You’ll be welcomed with a glass of local wine (because obviously), then taken down into the cool, shadowy cellars to hear how the magic happens.
Back upstairs, it’s time for a proper tasting — expect bold reds, minerally whites, and a spread of local bites: homemade cheeses, cured salami, marinated artichokes… basically everything you’d want to eat with a good Sicilian wine in hand (and expect to taste at least 5 of them!).
Next, you’ll head to a nearby farmhouse for a leisurely lunch out on the terrace. The menu varies, but as an idea, you might have black pork ragù with wild herbs, handmade pastas, or other Etna specialties.
And just when you think the day can’t get any sweeter? One final treat: a homemade limoncello to sip before heading back.
2. From Catania: Etna Morning Excursion with Tasting
⌛ Tour Length: 6 hours | 🌟 Rating: 4.8/5 stars (800+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
To really make the most of your time in Catania, this morning wine and hiking tour leaves bright and early and lets you explore the lunar-like landscapes of Mt. Etna — just long enough to give you an appetite for trying the wines it creates.
You’ll be picked up at one of two locations in Catania and then wind your way up toward Etna’s slopes, as your guide tells you the fiery history of Europe’s highest active volcano, a history you can see right before your eyes. You’ll stop at the Silvestri Craters (2,000 meters above sea level), volcanic caves, and the famous lava stream from 1991, which almost reached a nearby village.
After you’ve thoroughly explored the landscape of Etna, you’ll get a different experience: a way to taste its tumultuous geology through its unique wines and other products. Local Etna honey, olive oil, and of course, wines all bear a memorable imprint of the volcano’s power in its products, and your guide will show you how to notice and appreciate those unique qualities that make people seek out Etna as a notable wine region.
3. From Catania or Taormina: Private Etna Wine Tour
⌛ Tour Length: 6 hours | 🌟 Rating: 4.8/5 stars (120+ reviews) | 🍷 Book Now
If you’re a huge wine fan, this private Etna wine tour really just might be the highlight of your whole trip. Start with a pickup wherever you’re staying — Catania, Messina, or Taormina — and head up into the vineyard-covered slopes of Mt. Etna — past lava-stone villages, citrus groves, and postcard-worthy panoramas.
First up: a cozy family-run winery where you’ll dive straight into the good stuff — three Etna DOC wines paired with crunchy house-made bruschetta piled high with fresh, seasonal toppings. You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at the winemaking process, led by a sommelier!
Then it’s off to winery number two, where you’ll get to sip four more regional wines while enjoying a full Sicilian lunch: think a traditional tagliere (charcuterie board loaded with local cheeses, meats, and marinated veggies), plus a hearty pasta dish made with whatever’s freshest that day.
Finally, the last winery rounds out the day with a tasting of three more wines (yes, you’re counting right — that’s ten total by now…), served with even more Etna-sourced goodness: fresh bread, olives, olive oil, artisanal cheeses… basically the best parts of Sicily, served on one long wooden board.
Private, personal, and absolutely packed with flavor — this is how you do Etna right.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
