A journey through the wines
and best wineries of Etna, starting from Relais San Giuliano
The Etna terroir, home to excellent DOC white and red wines
Minutes from some of the area’s finest wineries, Relais San Giuliano in Viagrande is the ideal base for a wine-lover getaway into the Etna terroir, home to some of Sicily’s most famous, most treasured wines.
The area’s winemaking heritage runs deep, and Viagrande belongs to the Strada del Vino dell’Etna, a multi-sensory route into the region, starting with producers like the historic Benanti winery, who’ve bottled its essence under Sicily’s first Controlled Designation of Origin.
Between dry-stone walls, centuries-old terraces, historic palmenti and vineyards with roots sunk deep in ancient lava, a journey begins for anyone who counts good wine among life’s essential pleasures.
The Ionian breeze, mineral-rich volcanic soil, and a Mediterranean climate with continental touches created, over time, the perfect conditions for the winemaking tradition the ancient Greeks brought here, passed down generation after generation along with a love for this land, both generous and complex. At over 3000 metres, Etna shows a different microclimate, vegetation and soil on each slope, shaping how each wine is grown and how it tastes.
Etna wineries, from North to South
The wineries we recommend represent the best of contemporary Etna winemaking: producers focused on quality, respect for the land, and production excellence. Visit them, and you’re on a lovely sensory journey through lava, vineyards and culture, discovering wines that tell Etna’s story in every shade.
Every Etna DOC wine speaks to a different side of the terroir: the strong mineral vein of Nerello Mascalese, the softness of Nerello Cappuccio, the acidity of Carricante, the citrus of Catarratto. Complex, unmistakable, and somehow it feels like drinking Etna itself.
ETNA NORTH: ALTITUDE, MINERALITY AND CHARACTER
Many consider the northern side of Etna the volcano’s finest terroir. Vineyards climb high here, on ancient lava flows, producing wines of great structure and mineral depth. Pietradolce is one of Etna North’s iconic names, alongside the well-regarded Cottanera, the unconventional Frank Cornelissen, Palmento Costanzo (a lovely example of architectural and cultural recovery of traditional palmenti), and Franchetti.
Etna South: tradition, elegance and volcanic sparkling wines
The southern side is milder, with often historic vineyards where tradition meets a modern, refined touch.
Key names: Benanti, near the famous Monti Rossi craters, an absolute benchmark for Etna DOC; Barone di Villagrande alongside it; Murgo, known above all for its classic-method sparkling wines, among Etna’s finest; and Favazza, an emerging producer already earning real respect.
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Discover the pleasure of a Sicilian relais, with SPA, restaurant and pool