Whether you are a wine enthusiast or simply curious, during your stay in Sicily it is worth taking a walk along the Etna Wine Route.
The volcano dominates the landscape and the life of the villages that rise along its slopes: an environment that fascinates and surprises, with its 3,325 metres of height and the hypnotic power it exerts on anyone seeing it for the first time.
In our article Etna wine: grapes and wineries on Mount Etna, we explored the diversity of Etna wines and the area’s most renowned cellars. This time, we guide you through the different slopes of the volcano and some of its small producers, artisanal realities that are helping to redefine Etna’s contemporary wine identity.
More than a single route, the Etna Wine Road is a network of paths unfolding along the volcano’s slopes, each with its own character. This mosaic of landscapes is what makes the journey unique: just a few kilometres are enough for the light, altitude and scenery to change completely.
Eastern slope
The eastern slope is where the mountain meets the sea.
Between Milo, Zafferana Etnea and Sant’Alfio the landscape is green and shaded, with woods and small vineyards overlooking the Ionian coast. Here you will find artisanal wineries such as ValCerasa, in the hills around Milo, and Eredi Di Maio, a family-run estate that continues to cultivate historic local vineyards. In Zafferana Etnea, the young Cantina Malopasso produces small, handcrafted batches, following every step of the process personally.
Northern slope
The northern and north-eastern slopes are the historical heart of Etna’s viticulture. Castiglione di Sicilia and Randazzo preserve old palmenti, lava-stone streets and an agricultural heritage still visible in the landscape.
Between Randazzo and Solicchiata works SRC, founded in 2012, cultivating vineyards on steep, irregular terraces and interpreting the territory in a direct, essential way.
As you move towards Linguaglossa, the landscape opens onto isolated vineyards and wide views. Here you’ll find Al-Cantàra, a winery that blends wine, art and culture in a project deeply rooted in the area.
Southern slope
The southern slope offers the most immediate encounter with Etna’s volcanic nature.
Around Rifugio Sapienza, extinct craters, black gravel and recent lava flows create a striking scenery. Some local farms organise late-afternoon or evening tastings, perfect after a gentle walk among the Silvestri craters, often with sea views in the distance.
Visiting these places means discovering the most authentic side of Etna: made of people, traditions and micro-territories that tell the story of the volcano with honesty and depth. A journey short in distance, yet rich in nuance, just like the wines that are born here.
Photo credits
Alfio Garozzo
