Welcome to our new travel program for Sicily!
We want to show you the beautiful, genuine and tasty Sicily.
>>May 28 to June 3, 2024<<
This trip takes you to the Mediterranean's largest island, the furthest south in Italy. Here is perhaps Italy at its best: exciting and varied wines, fantastic cuisine, dramatic landscapes with stunning views, charming villages, wonderful beaches, historical remains and a wide range of shopping.
We visit carefully selected restaurants and meet several passionate producers on various vineyard visits. All this in beautiful environments and surroundings.
We live exclusively at the five-star Hotel Esperia Palace in Zafferana. We are delighted to include this modern design hotel. During the trip, we can enjoy the hotel's pool and the possibility exists for various spa treatments.
We hold a winemaker's dinner at Barone di Villagrande, where we try the flavours of Etna paired with wines from this noble and historic cellar.
We visit beautiful Taormina where we get a guided tour and time for shopping.
We have a guided tour and tasting at one of the leading producers at Etna, Vini Franchetti.
We are working together with the amazing Lisa Sapienza, our friend and colleague, based in Sicily. Lisa is our local guide, and a passionate advocate for Sicilian wines, who works with exports for a number of smaller, high quality producers. These are located in eastern Sicily and thus she has great knowledge and an incredible network of contacts in the area.
Another highlight is a cooking class in Taormina led by master chef Pietro d`Agostini. Pietro has at his restaurant, Capinera, a star in the Michelin guide!
We also have lunch at another one of Etna's best producers, Benanti, in cozy Sicilian surroundings.
We take a cable car and magnifico boat trip from Taormina, around beautiful Isola Bella and get to see the sunset over Etna. Afterwards, we head to the most famous fish and seafood restaurant, Da Nino, in Letojanni, where we feast on the delights of the sea!
We will journey to Syracuse and Ortigia, where our local guide, Elfie, reveals all it’s historic treasures.
Wine is grown all over Sicily and due to its size it is impossible to visit the whole island during these days. We have chosen to concentrate the trip on Etna and Taormina and the surrounding area. That means the vineyards in the black lava soil around Etna. The local grapes produce full-bodied, powerful wines with good acidity so that they are healthy, fruity and well-balanced. We will get to know many unique indigenous varietals such as Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Cataratto, Carricante, Nero d`Avola, Grillo and Inzolia and more. The varietals are endless.
Of course, we visit Europe's most active volcano, Etna, where we take a light guided hike. Here we have a breathtaking view of impressive craters!
Our "Arrividerci Dinner" is held at the gourmet restaurant Sabir Gourmanderie, which is walking distance from the hotel.
These are some of the experiences that await you during the spring trip that is guided by us.
The price of the trip includes everything except flights.
The main focus of our trip is to have a gourmet Sicilian experience. To taste and savour the delicious wines and cuisine of this unique Mediterranean island.
Welcome to Mondo Vino’s wine world and La Bella Sicilia!
Day 1 - Arrivo Sicilia, check-in and relax at five-star Esperia, and dinner at Barone di Villagrande Winery
In the morning Mondo Vino guides arrive at Catania airport (see more under other information). Here also you meet our local guide, Lisa Sapienza. Lisa was born in the USA and has Italian parents. She describes herself as a "Jersey girl" and has lived in Sicily for the past 35 years. Lisa lives near Etna's slopes. She has worked for the famous producers Benanti and Franchetti for a total of 30 years, and currently works with exports for a number of smaller high quality producers in eastern Sicily. She has a solid knowledge and amazing network of contacts! She will contribute a lot of fascinating history and probably many happy laughs during these days together.
After our expectant group is gathered, we travel to our hotel , the five-star Hotel Esperia Palace, which will be our accommodation throughout the trip. Inaugurated in 2011, the accommodation is located in Zafferana Etnea, between Etna and the Ionian Sea, excellent logistically for the excursions of the trip. From the hotel you can walk to the center of the charming village.
Esperia Palace is a modern design hotel with 34 rooms and here we can expect elegant accommodation with high comfort. All rooms have a balcony with a lovely view. After check-in, time is given to relax, refresh, and use the hotel's pool and Spa facility.
The first stop of the trip will be at producer Barone di Villagrande whose beautiful farm is located at 700 meters on the slopes of Etna (Milo). Here, owner Marco Nicolosi’s family have been producing wine since 1727. Here we will have our first meal, a five-course dinner paired with five of the house wines while taking in the breathtaking view of the estate’s vineyards and Catania’s coastal area. When the appellation DOC Etna was formed in 1968, it was Carlo Nicolosi Asmundo who wrote the appellation's regulations. Today the farm is organically certified and the annual production is only 80,000 bottles.
We return to our hotel to rest up for the exciting days ahead!
Day 2 - Charming Taormina, cooking class with a Michelin chef, boat trip and the delicacies of the sea at Da Nino's
After a fortifying breakfast, we go to the enchanting Taormina, which has fascinated guests from all over the world since the Middle Ages. The city, with approximately 11,000 inhabitants, is stunningly situated on a dramatic slope on the east coast of Sicily. We step into Pietro d`Agostini's kitchen laboratory where he conducts "corso di cucina" (cooking courses). Pietro is a real master chef and his restaurant, Capinera, holds one star in the Michelin guide. Here we will spend the morning together learning, preparing and then enjoying a four-course lunch, led by Pietro himself! He grew up in Taormina and he is keen to preserve the Sicilian food culture. We get an interesting background to Sicily's food culture before our gastronomic adventure begins. Here, great focus is placed on taste experiences with seasonal local ingredients.
Enriched with knowledge and in a cheerful mood, the time has now come to discover Taormina and its beautiful surroundings. The city has a favorable climate and many monuments, including an ancient Greek theater. This has made the city a popular tourist destination. We get a guided tour through Taormina's centro, which has an unbeatable charm with streets full of atmosphere, flower-covered balconies and exciting restaurants and cafes. Taormina's charm consists primarily of its location and the beautiful original buildings that characterize the city center. After the guided tour, there is also time for shopping, or perhaps a relaxing aperativo in a cozy piazza in the midst of the crowd.
Today's excursion continues with a cable car ride down to the sea and the beautiful coast of Sicily. If weather permits, there is a boat waiting for us at the shore at Isola Bella, perhaps one of the most photographed views in all of Sicily. From the boat we see the sunset over Etna and the beautiful caves on Isola Bella. A small tour along the coast then takes us on to Giardini Naxos, where a bus awaits us to journey to our dinner destination.
We then go to Ristorante Da Nino, which is probably the most famous seafood restaurant on the east coast of Sicily. These are strong words, but when we ask around among our new Sicilian friends, it is usually this name that is mentioned. It is located on the beach in Letojanni and is today run by Giovanni (Nino's son). In addition to a beautiful sea view, dinner awaits during the evening, wonderful dishes with the delights of the sea, and WINES?? Ristorante Da Nino has more than 800 labels on its wine lists with a large choice of Sicilian, Italian and international wines. This is a dinner that, we believe, will not soon be forgotten!
Day 3 – Vini Franchetti, lunch at Cave Ox, and free evening
First visit of the morning takes us to Vini Franchetti. Andrea Franchetti started his winemaking career at the now cult Tenuta di Trinoro in Tuscany. By selling a painting by his uncle, the artist Cy Twombley, he got capital to invest in Sicily. He bought abandoned vineyard sites 1,100 m above sea level on the slopes of Etna. Here he also found a terraced vineyard with 80-100 year old vines of the local blue grape variety Nerello Mascalese and then Passopisciaro (later Franchetti) was born.
Today, both Tenuta di Trinoro and Franchetti receive fine awards from international wine guides every year. We get a first-rate and interesting tasting of the house's wines.
We then head to today's memorable lunch at Cave Ox Solicchiata. This casual osteria is frequented by local winemakers who come for pizza dinners and rustic daily lunch specials, but most visitors are smitten with the small but amazing cellar focused on Etna natural wines. Everything's fresh, simple, and delicious—and made to pair with one of the delightful wines suggested by owner and wine enthusiast Sandro.
When we return to our accommodation, a free evening awaits. For a small supplement, you have the opportunity to enjoy the hotel's Spa facility, why not pamper yourself with a treatment? Zafferana Etnea is a cozy village with about 8,000 inhabitants and we can recommend a walk in the center of the village. Here you can explore Oro dell’Etna, a shop selling local honey with many different flavours, also garlic pate, pistachio pate, olives and other specialties are on display. Donna Peppina is famous for its pasticcieri but above all for its pizza, prepared on ricetta siciliana... A Birra Moretti tonight in the piazza and life can be considered very fair... As recently as 2013, the village was hit by large amounts of
ash after an eruption on Etna. In 1992, the Italian Air Force managed to stop a lava flow at the last moment by dropping large blocks of ice so that the small village was fortunately saved.
Day 4 – Etna volcano, lunch at beautiful Cantina Benanti, and dinner at rustic La Tana Del Lupo
We leave this morning for an adventure to Etna, Europe's largest active volcano. Etna or "Muncibeddu" as the mountain is called in Sicilian, has been more or less active for 600,000 years. Etna is also Sicily's highest peak at 3,323 meters high and the volcano is considered one of the most active in the world due to its repeated minor eruptions in recent years, including the new paroxysm in December 2023 which produced several lava streams.
We stop at an altitude of about 2,000 meters and take an easier hike where we can see several mighty craters. The area with its crater is an incredible experience up close. We get a guided tour by a guide who specializes in Etna in particular. From this height we can take in the magnificent view of Etna and its craters as well as the east coast of Sicily!
After our Etna adventure we think it is time to try some of these volcanic wines, and at one of the pioneers, Cantina Benanti, which is located in Viagrande. The Benanti family was originally a family of pharmacists but over the last 30 years has built up a commercial winery. The family has had vineyards on Etna since the end of the 19th century. However, they only bottled for their own use and sold grapes to other producers. Giuseppe Benanti took over in 1988. He wanted something more with his vineyards and saw the potential of Etna's special terroirs and grapes. In 2007, Giuseppe received the title "winemaker of the year" by Gambero Rosso. Sadly, Giuseppe passed away in 2023. The farm is run today by Guiseppe's sons Antonio and Salvino. Here they are keen to make us understand that volcanic wines are not at all similar to other wines from the island. We get a guided tour where we can see 100-year-old ungrafted vines in Monte Serra's beautiful vineyards, which are located on a volcanic crater. Afterwards, we have a winemaker's lunch at Benanti's in cozy and rustic surroundings.
After a little rest and refresh at the hotel, we travel to the village of Pedara for dinner at the restaurant La Tana del Lupo. This restaurant is run by Guiseppe Borzi who is a good friend of our local guide. It feels like Guiseppe puts his whole soul into his restaurant where he communicates with all his guests. He has promised that we will get to try many different Sicilian antipasti. It is a smaller restaurant with a lot of rustic charm. Many of Etna's producers eat here and you really get a "casa dolce" feeling here.
Giuseppe, also the chef of the restaurant, boasts national and international experience, and has worked for several years in Sicily. His dishes are inspired by local tradition. Together with the sommelier Miriam, he will guide us in tasting the restaurant's spectacular specialties paired with wines offered by the restaurant's cellar.
Day 5—Guided tour of historic Syracuse and Ortigia, lunch at Porta Marina and free evening…
After a fortifying breakfast we journey to historic Syracuse and Ortigia. The small Baroque island of Ortigia, the historic center of Syracuse, is widely considered one of the most beautiful destinations in Sicily. Inhabited for over 3,000 years and renowned for its Greek heritage, it is a UNESCO landmark for its "remarkable testimony of the Mediterranean cultures over the centuries” and makes for a perfect escape in any season. Dotted with impressive church facades, outdoor restaurants, elegant piazzas and surrounded by a crystalline sea, Ortigia is more manicured than Catania, less overrun than Taormina and imbued with cultural significance. Our knowledegable guide, Elfie will take us on a guided tour, including the Cathedral of Syracuse, which is, truly, one of a kind. An incredible crossroad of cultures. From Greek temple to Norman church, it houses incredible treasures.
After an active morning we make our way to Ristorante Porta Marina Ortigia for a well deserved lunch! Here we will dine in an historic building from the early 15th century, under century old arches creating a special and homely atmosphere. The restaurant is always well-attended by the locals.
Now, refreshed and renewed, we are free to explore Ortigia and Syracuse at our leisure. Another incredible day in beautiful Sicily!
We return back to our hotel for a free evening, to relax at the spa, swim or lounge, whatever your pleasure is!
Day 6—National Holiday-Festa della Repubblica! Visit to Catania, Arrivederci Dinner at Sabir Gourmandie
Italians celebrate Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica) on June 2. It is a national holiday that commemorates the date when Italians voted to abolish the monarchy and form a republic. In 1946, World War II had just ended – and with it Fascism – and the Italian people were eager to usher in a new chapter of freedom. Since then, Italy has been a unitary parliamentary republic.
Accordingly, June 2 is a major holiday! Offices, banks, and schools close; grand parades march; and a ceremonial wreath is laid on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The tomb and its eternal flame are enshrined in the Altare della Patria in Rome, a modern symbol of Italy.
What better place to experience the celebrations than Catania! After breakfast, we head to the center of Sicily's second largest city. In the 17th century, Catania was rocked by a volcanic eruption and an earthquake that leveled the city. The city was rebuilt with magnificent buildings using the lava that had destroyed the city. We have a city-licensed guide who will take us to Piazza Duomo and look at the blue-gray baroque facade of Catania's cathedral, built of volcanic stone. Inside you can look at a chapel that houses the remains of Saint Agatha. Around the square are other magnificent buildings such as the convent church of St. Agatha and the Palazzo degli Elefanti, which is the city's town hall. We also walk through the streets well known to the city, Via Crocfieri and Piazza Università. There is the lush Bellini garden and here you can enjoy a quiet moment among plants, trees, statues and fountains. Time is also given here to have a lunch on your own. Perhaps sample some arrancini, or a famous Sicilian granita?
After this busy, bustling afternoon we head back to our hotel, where we can rest before our final dinner, the “Arrivederci Dinner” at Sabir Gourmandie! We take a short walk through the hotel's own park and expectations are high when we sit down at the table in Seby Serbello's restaurant, Sabir Gourmanderie, and partake of a five-course menu. It is a recommended restaurant in the Michelin guide. After this gastronomic experience we can think back on our exciting week, share our favourite moments and wines, and compare notes with our fellow food and wine enthusiasts.
DAY 7- ARRIVEDERCI!
Check out from Esperia Palace and bus journey to Catania Airport.
Travel information: email info@mondovino.ca
May 28 to June 3/ 2024
Right now you can only sign up for our trips by emailing info@mondovino.ca
The information we need is first and last name, your address, and a mobile phone per couple
The price of the trip includes:
Transfers and transportation by modern air-conditioned buses throughout the trip
Six nights sharing in a double room at the five-star Esperia Palace (breakfast included)
Cooking class and lunch with a Sicilian Michelin star chef
Three different wine tastings at local vineyards
Full board with drinks according to the program is included, except for dinner during two free evenings and a lunch on the last day
Guided visit to the volcano Etna
Guided visit to Taormina including the Greek Theatre
Guided visit to Syracuse and Ortigia
Guided visit to Catania
English-speaking local guide throughout the trip
Arrivederci Dinner at a Michelin Star restaurant
The price of the trip is CAD $3395.00 per person
(based on double occupancy)
Other information:
We have chosen not to include the flight in the price of the trip. This is due to difficulties in getting together a group with guests who may choose to use their travel points to fly, or perhaps, arrive earlier in Italy to explore other beautiful regions. We believe that most travelers will prefer this flexibility. There are several possibilities to get to Sicily both with Air Canada/ITA , Lufthansa and other airlines. You can also look at arriving at Palermo a few days earlier, which is further away, and enjoy some time in Sicily before (or after) our organized trip. For those interested we are happy to recommend a travel agent to assist in your planning.
More information about May 28 - June 3, 2024:
We have two alternative meeting points: 1. Meet us at Catania Airport in the arrivals hall. Mondo Vino’s guides fly with ITA from Rome and land at 11:15am on May 28 at Catania airport. The shuttle bus will depart for Hotel Esperia Zafferana shortly after all customer luggage is collected, roughly 12:30
2. For those not arriving at Catania airport that day, transfer to the hotel will be at your own expense. Meet us in the lobby at Hotel Esperia Zafferana for check-in, roughly 1-1:30pm. The bus will pick up all guests at our hotel at 7:30pm to journey to our first vineyard and dinner.
We would like information about which of the options you choose no later than two weeks before departure.
The trip May 28-June 3 ends at Catania Airport on June 3, where we arrive between 9:30-10:00am.
Mondo Vino guides fly as follows May 28-June 3, 2024:
27 May 16:25-07:30 Toronto-Rome (AC 906)
28 May 10:00-11.15 Rome-Catania ( AZ 1731)
03 June 11:55-14:05 Catania-Munich ( LH 1907)
03 June 15:50-18:35 Munich-Toronto (LH 494)
Mondo Vino Wine Tour:
This tour is the brain-child of three people who together guarantee a professionally arranged trip. Danny Castricone is a wine importer and founder of Mondo Vino. His passion is to find smaller owned, estate-grown wines, that express their grape varietal type in its purest form and exemplify the truest characteristics of their terroir. He is equally passionate about good food, languages and connecting with people. In thirty-plus years working with winemakers (primarily from Italy) he has developed an incredible palate and is excited to share his enthusiasm and knowledge about the wines of Etna and the surrounding region. Maria Syrgiannis wears many hats: partner in life and business to Danny, TICO certified travel counsellor, WSET level 2 graduate, with over two decades of experience in restaurants and catering. Her aim is to help create a memorable gourmet Sicilian adventure. Lisa Sapienza is our friend and colleague based in Sicily. Originally from New Jersey, she has lived and worked in Sicily for over thirty-five years. She began her wine experience with Giuseppe Benanti, who founded his winery in 1988. Together they worked closely alongside the winemaker Salvo Foti to educate and promote the native grapes of Mount Etna which at the time were unknown and not appealing to the customer’s taste nor the wine world. Her experience with Benanti lasted 24 years. Thanks to Benanti, the pioneer of the Etna wine region, today it is considered one of the most important wine regions of Italy. Lisa is a passionate advocate for Sicilian wines. Today she helps small boutique wineries from Sicily and Italy export to the US market and Canada. She has been collaborating with Danny at Mondo Vino for several years now promoting and selling Italian wines into Canada. With her incredible knowledge of the history of the island, gift for story telling, and rapid-fire delivery, she is the gem of the team!
Our role as both wine importer and tour operator means that we have a more personal relationship with the producers, which creates unique experiences for our guests. Most wine tastings during the trips take place together with food to show the best qualities of the wine. Our local guides are hand-picked representatives from wine producers, not regular tourist guides. Our trip is not only aimed at "experienced wine tasters" but at people enjoying life in general. You don't need to have any knowledge of wine to fully enjoy our trip. We consider ourselves able to take care of everyone in a relaxed, fun and pleasant way.
Booking Information:
For a booking request, please email us at info@mondovino.ca
The information we need is: first and last names (as listed on your passport), your address, email, mobile phone per couple, and payment method.
This is a booking request. After receiving the request, we will get back to you shortly with confirmation of your reservation. Reservations will be handled by our TICO registered affiliate A Perfect Tour. In connection with this, we will send our travel conditions, an invoice for the 30% CAD deposit fee, and a confirmation of the remaining amount to be paid no later than 60 days before departure.
We recommend you have trip cancellation and medical insurance and are happy to assist you in getting quotes.
Ensure your passports are valid at least six months beyond your planned date of departure.
Please contact us with any questions at info@mondovino.ca