Sicily Wine Tasting Tour from Taormina & Etna Winery

Sicilian Wine & Etna Slopes: Afternoon Tasting from Taormina

You get picked up from Taormina, driven up to Gambino Winery on Etna's volcanic slopes, and guided through four Sicilian wines with regional snacks and cheese. The afternoon format means no early wake-up, and the guide covers the production story while you taste. Plan for steady walking on the winery grounds, and you'll be back in Taormina by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wine tasting and winery visit

• Travel to Piedimonte Etneo and Linguaglossa
• Visit Gambino Winery
• Learn about Sicilian wine production
• Taste four regional wines
• Enjoy small aperitif with local foods
• Return to Taormina area

The experience

The van is already climbing when you realize how far Taormina sits below. Piedimonte Etneo and Linguaglossa rise around you at 800 meters, and the air shifts: cooler, thinner, carrying the smell of volcanic soil and old stone. Your guide is already talking about the vines that grow here, how the Etna slopes do something to the grapes that nowhere else can replicate. This is the Sicily wine tasting tour, and it starts the moment you leave the coast behind.

At Gambino Winery (a family operation that's been working this land for generations). You walk into a room where four different wines are waiting. The guide walks you through the production process, how the volcanic terrain shapes what ends up in the glass, and then you taste: one wine after another, each one paired with small bites. Preserved vegetables, local cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, bread, olive oil from the region. It's not a fancy spread, but it's real, and it's exactly what these wines want next to them. You're not rushing through a tasting sheet. You're sitting with the wine long enough to actually taste it.

The whole thing moves at an afternoon pace: no early starts, no marathon of stops. You're back in the Taormina area by late afternoon, which means you've had time to understand something about how Sicily makes wine without the day swallowing your evening. The guide speaks English, French, or Italian, and the air-conditioned vehicle handles the winding road up and back down. Comfortable shoes matter here. The winery involves some walking, and the slopes aren't flat.

What’s included

Your afternoon includes hotel or designated pickup from the Taormina area, air-conditioned transport to Gambino Winery on Etna's slopes, a guided tour of the winery and introduction to Sicilian wine production, tasting of four regional wines, and a small aperitif with preserved vegetables, local cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, bread, and olive oil. Drop-off back in the Taormina area is included.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday and ThursdayDeparts at 14:30Last departure this season: 5 Nov

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Noema Viaggi Srl

Is this one for you?Right for wine drinkers who want to understand Sicilian production without a full-day commitment. The afternoon timing and 800-meter elevation mean you're tasting wines shaped by volcanic soil and learning the story behind them, not just sampling.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Italian.

What wines do you taste on this tour?

Four different Sicilian wines produced by Gambino Winery on Etna's slopes. The guide explains the production process and how the volcanic terrain affects the grapes.

Is pickup included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from a designated point in the Taormina area are included.

What food is served with the wine tasting?

A small aperitif of preserved vegetables, Sicilian cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, bread, and local olive oil.

How long is the tour?

It's an afternoon tour. You return to Taormina in the late afternoon, so plan for roughly 4–5 hours total.

Is this tour suitable for pregnant travelers?

No, it's not recommended for pregnant travelers.

Do I need special shoes?

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended because the winery involves walking on uneven ground.

Can infants come on the tour?

Yes, infants can attend but must sit on an adult's lap.