From Syracuse: Private Tour Of Three Etna Wineries With Food

We spent a fantastic full day exploring the vineyards of Mount Etna on a private wine tour with Bruno of Prestelli Sicily Tours. Bruno was an outstanding guide who arranged a wonderful selection of winery visits and tastings, including a visit to a “garage wine” producer where we had the opportunity to meet the owners. Experiences like this made the day especially memorable. Bruno’s knowledge of the Mount Etna wine region was truly impressive, and his passion for Sicilian wine made the entire experience that much more rewarding. Having spent the past three years wine touring internationally, we’ve had the pleasure of experiencing wine regions around the world, and Bruno ranks among the very best guides we’ve encountered. We highly recommend Prestelli Sicily Tours for anyone looking to explore Sicily’s wine regions, particularly Mount Etna. One day was simply not enough! We left eager to return and explore Sicilian wine country in greater depth. If you’re planning a wine tour in Sicily, don’t miss the opportunity to book with Prestelli and request Bruno as your guide. You won’t be disappointed!

All the wineries were definitely worth the visit. The food was amazing and our driver was great and so courteous and kind. It was a great tour and I would definitely recommend

Our Mt. Etna wine excursion with Roberto was easily one of the most memorable experiences of our trip. He curated a perfect mix of three wineries, balancing larger, well-known estates with intimate, local craft producers so we could truly experience the range of Etna wines. What made the day unforgettable was the personal touch. It happened to be the day my fiancé proposed, and Roberto went above and beyond to help him find the perfect setting overlooking Mt. Etna. It was thoughtful, seamless, and genuinely magical. If you’re visiting Sicily, this is an absolute must-do. Incredible wine, stunning scenery, and a guide who turns a great tour into something truly special.

Despite having challenging weather (rain, wind, cold air and intense fog) out guide Roberto was enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable. His passion and love for his country, his career and the local wine and honey artisans is what makes him so good. He made sure we were comfortable and was willing to even be a photographer for us. He navigated terrible weather to get us to the top of Mt. Etna. He was very knowledgeable about the craters and the topography. He has personal relationships with each Vineyard and that makes his presentation so interesting. If we are able to come back we will definitely request Fernando again.

We had a wonderful day with Roberto, our very experienced sommelier guide, visiting unique wineries well off the beaten track, who make delicious biodynamic wines which really connect you with the volcanic slopes of Mt Etna. Highly recommended.

Our guide Roberto was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We went to wineries of all sizes from a completely hand made old school operation to a grand chateau. Amazing and unique wines across the board and all paired with incredible views in picturesque settings!

If you only book one tour during your trip, make it this one. Our guide was warm, engaging, and full of local insights - pointing out hidden details as we made our way into the Etna region. And then came the wineries. Each stop felt like its own little discovery: welcoming hosts, stunning landscapes, and wine that tasted unlike anything we’ve tried before - thanks to those volcanic soils that give every sip a bold, distinctive character. And the food… so much food. But every bite paired perfectly with the wines and made the experience feel authentic, generous, and unforgettable. This tour truly captures the spirit and flavor of the region.

Exceptional wine tasting and vineyard tour - we loved every moment of it. We learned much more about Etna wines and the special geographical elements that make the wine so good. We were able to experience two smaller producers and one larger one and see and taste the differences between them. We feel very privileged to have been given access to the most boutique vineyard of the three, Vini Lizzio. Our driver and guide Corrado was highly knowledgeable and welcoming. We had an incredible day and highly recommend this experience to anyone who is interested in wine.

We booked this as a private 7-hour winery tour from Syracuse. The wineries themselves were excellent and the hosts were incredibly generous with their time. But the experience was absolutely not private. Another couple was booked on the exact same itinerary, about 10–15 minutes ahead of us. At all three stops, we were seated together and nothing started until both groups arrived. It made the day feel more like a shared group tour — and unfortunately the other couple wasn’t quite our preferred style. This really needs to be addressed by the operator. That said, the wineries ranged from charming to fascinating, and the lunch was outstanding. ⸻ 1. La Gelsomina (Tenute Orestiadi – Etna) A beautiful, rustic estate with a pink villa, stone courtyard, and an atmosphere that feels like old Etna. They have real charm — including a flock of hens roaming around. Their tasting included Etna whites, reds, and sparkling wines, plus some Tenute Orestiadi selections. They also took us into the cellar, where we got a great look at their fermentation setup and aging program. As a home winemaker, I really appreciated how open they were about their winemaking choices. Among the three stops, this was easily the most atmospheric. ⸻ 2. Lunch at Vini Lizzio – Presa, Piedimonte Etneo Lunch at Vini Lizzio was a real highlight. It started with bread, charcuterie, cheeses, olives, and a warm sandwich — then continued with a pasta course, and finally dessert. Everything was homemade, hearty, and delicious. They clearly take pride in their winemaking — especially in some very niche, experimental techniques: • They are one of the leading Sicilian producers of amphora-fermented wines • One of their wines is aged in cherry wood barrels • Another is aged on almonds I loved the passion behind these methods, even if the results weren’t entirely to my taste. Still, it made for a fascinating discussion and a unique tasting experience. ⸻ 3. Cantina Neri – Etna (modern terrace + incredible view) The final stop was Cantina Neri, set in a sleek, modern tasting room with floor-to-ceiling glass and a terrace looking straight up at Mount Etna. The volcano was actively venting steam during our visit, which made the view absolutely unforgettable. Their tasting was paired with olives, charcuterie, and local snacks — and the setting was easily the most dramatic of the day. ⸻ Bottom line If you want: ✅ a variety of Etna wineries ✅ generous hosts who love talking about viticulture and winemaking ✅ excellent homemade Sicilian lunch ✅ unique winemaking techniques (amphoras, cherry wood, almonds!) ✅ and a breathtaking view of Etna venting steam …this tour is a great option. But if you’re booking it because it’s advertised as private, be aware your day may not actually be private at all.

Corrado, our driver, was friendly and knowledgeable about the mountain and the area. We never felt rushed and enjoyed the day!! Wonderful wines and a different experience at each place. Lunch was homemade and yummy. One thing was awkward, there was another private tour visiting the same three wineries. The other couple seemed upset because they had to wait for us to arrive before the winery would start the tasting/tour.

Throughly recommend this wine tasting trip when staying in Sicily. Our guide Alessandro picked us up to begin our tour. We did several tours and had some ‘interesting’ trips around the many windy roads of Sicily. Alessandro was the best driver of our various tours and was very considerate in his driving style, which was very welcome! Each of the three tastings were different in terms of setting / location and wines. All provided food, which we hadn’t expected as it only advertised lunch, so that was a nice surprise. The highlight we decided what the second tasting. A small cottage industry (6k bottles only), run by two brothers and we had lunch looking over a hilltop view cooked by one of their wives - a real home made Sicilian traditional treat and their wines were excellent. We were able to go at our own pace during the day and Alessandro was always willing to wait longer if we wanted to linger.

Omar was a fantastic guide for us in wine country in Sicily. He communicated with us well before and during the trip, and recommended a great local family-run winery for us to visit. We couldn't have been happier with our day with Omar.

We had an incredible time on our wine tour. Corrado was knowledgeable, kind, and did all he could to make sure that we had a memorable experience. He let us take our time at each stop and answered any questions we had. Each stop on the tour was great. We had amazing food and wine with wild views of mountains and the sea. I highly recommend this tour.

A fantastic day. We visited three wineries, each with its own character and representing a different aspect of Etna viticulture. The food and wine were very good and our driver, Corrado, was very knowledgeable and made good conversation. We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend.

Well worth it. At one point, we went to a smaller winery run by third generation brothers who were the ones serving our wine with one of their wives making our lunch. So it won't be like the corporate experiences you expect in the US. It's a wonderful day of great wine, learning a bit about the very special viniculture on Etna.

We took this tour organized by Prestelli on April 12. We had a wonderful 8-hour day. Our driver picked us up at our hotel in Siracusa and dropped us back there at the end of the day. He was very friendly and accommodating, with plenty of interesting information on the region. He helped make the day special. We visited three wineries, on the north-east slope of Etna. The wineries were well chosen. They were varied in terms of site topography and size, though even the largest was relatively small in terms of overall production. In a day of tasting 10 wines, it also helped that there was quite interesting variation in the wines. While we had our favorites, none of the wines disappointed. For the first and third stops, we were able to wander through vineyards with a member of the vineyard team, who provided insight and responded to questions. This was followed by the indoor tasting. At the second stop (the smallest of the operations), we had a delicious three-course lunch prepared in-house by a member of the family, with the four wines carefully paired, and commentary provided by the two brothers who owned the vineyard. Our tour provided excellent views of the coast, the countryside, and Etna itself, with the peak clearly visible on a fine day. The fun interaction with others touring the same vineyards was an added plus.

We took a private day tour to three Etna Wineries. Prestelli is simply the best. We had the most wonderful day visiting three very unique and different types of vineyards. One included a beautiful lunch. But what made our experience even better was Prestelli's accommodation to a last minute port change from our Ritz Carlton Yacht itinerary which put us into Sircusa the day before we originally scheduled . I contacted them less than 48 hours before our arrival to Siracusa, and they worked so hard to accommodate the change and the day was absolutely perfect. I would definitely use Prestelli again and will let anyone know how dependable and wonderful they are to work with.

I want to thank Maurizio for a great tour of three different Etna wineries on our recently completed Sicily vacation. Maurizio was knowledgeable, professional, friendly and a pleasure to spend the day with together. We shared common interests in wine and food.. The three wineries each had different personalities, one was an organic/ natural winery, and we enjoyed the tastings at each one. The food was tasty and plentiful. In addition you get to spend a day on the beautiful slopes of Etna. This was not our first time in Sicily and wine is a big hobby of mine and I highly recommend this tour.

I want to thank Maurizio for a great tour of three different Etna wineries on our recently completed Sicily vacation. Maurizio was knowledgeable, professional, friendly and a pleasure to spend the day with together. We shared common interests in wine and food. . The three wineries each had different personalities, one was an organic/natural winery, and I enjoyed the tastings at each one. The food was tasty and plentiful. In addition you get to spend a day on the beautiful slopes of Etna. This was not our first time in Sicily and wine is a big hobby of mine and I highly recommend this tour.

First I want to say our driver was so professional and I felt so safe in his car. Second I want to say how fun the wine tours were. Each winery we experienced something different. Prestilli tours was magnificent!!

Great trip. All three wineries were very different. The meats and cheeses and other food served were perfect. Great way to spend a day

Pasquale is a true professional Sicilian who knows his island and Etna wine region quite well. My girlfriend and I took a private tour with him last week to 3 different wineries all featuring different styles. He ensured we were covid-19 safe with masks, sanitizer’s, and even brought fruits from his garden for us to eat throughout the ride from Taormina. He shared a lot of history about the area throughout the tour too. He truly went above and beyond to make it a great experience arranging private tours throughout these wineries, our favorite being Patria where we got to visit their fully winery, cellars, and many rooms they don’t usually show on tours. Wine was great but what made it even better was that he accommodated dietary restrictions for my girlfriend who eats vegan. Flexible on pickup and timing and even dropped us at Isla Bella to grab a few hours at the beach once we finished our day. Highly recommend this tour when you are in Sicily. Thanks again Pasquale!

Perfect day from the time we were picked up by our charming, knowledgeable driver....a taste of three different wineries each with a warm welcome,great tastings and lovely food accompaniments....would definitely recommend!