Highlights
Every step of this journey brings you through excellent wineries and historic wine cellars selected under the “Le Soste di Ulisse” mark representing the entire island’s various terroir.
About the Estates
First stop: Santa Cristina, Gela (PA), dating back to the 19th century as the home of Baron Ramione, the "Baglio", with its 13 elegant rooms, is a charming revival of ancient times. Within easy reach of splendid Palermo, the current owners, Count and Countess Marzotto, have opened their charming home for discriminating guests seeking relaxation after experiencing the wonders of Sicily. The Baglio recalls an Arab-Norman building, while its interior with its contemporary art and elegant French furnishings reflects the character of its hostess. Guests can take advantage of the renewing power of nature following the "fitness trail" through the vineyards, admiring the estate grounds and its winery, or just relaxing at the swimming pool.
Second stop: Menfi (AG) Menfi (AG) This hilltop working estate first appears to be a typical rural hamlet surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Your hosts, the Planeta family, top Sicilian wine producers, are attentive to every detail. Its fourteen rooms, each with a private terrace, and accented with the scent of the olive grove make it a truly inspiring place.
Third stop: – Vittoria (RG) This residence of a prestigious agricultural firm was built in the 19th century, the central palace and wine cellar extend into the internal courtyard. The locanda has been carefully reconstructed and represents the most prestigious point of production of the new-born DOCG Cerasuolo di Vittoria today. Surrounded of vineyards of Nero d’Avola and Frappato of Vittoria, the estate offers five apartements some in the main palace, others set in the old lodgings of the day-laborers.
About the wineries
Baglio di Pianetto: Pianetto is in Santa Cristina Gela, in the DOC Monreale area, and produces 13 wines and 2 extra virgin olive oils. Its vineyards are situated at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level and extended to a total area of about 88 hectares, of which 40 are in production, about 25 in phase 3 and replanting of olive groves. Current varieties are the Insolia and Viognier for whites, while the Merlot and Petit Verdot occupy the entire area planted with red. Baglio di Pianetto aims to produce high standards quality wines by basing its production on the tradition and innovation equilibrium.
Tasca d'Almerita: is the ambassador of the quality revolution of Sicilian wines. It’s one of the finest vine and wine firms in the world. The company makes no less than 20 labels with an almost fanatical cure of local grapes and continuous experimentation. They have already grafted 40 different varieties from all over the world.
Planeta:Dispensa is the heart of Planeta company, as the center of its technology and its production also serves as the historic home of the Planeta family. There are two wineries; the first is dedicated to producing the quality red wines Merlot, Syrah and Burdese. The winery has a total capacity of 400,000 liters with its own bottling line. Areas have been provided on the floor below for the wood storage, with a total capacity of about 1,500 barrels. The second winery, 'La Segreta', was completed for their 2005 vintage and produces the two wines La Segreta Bianco and La Segreta Rosso.
Donnafugata: Donnafugata was created by an enterprising family with 150 years’ experience in premium wines. Giacomo Rallo, wife Gabriella, daughter José, and son Antonio are all dedicated in producing quality wines that fully capture the land’s potential. Their wines reflect a painstaking attention to detail: to its vineyards, to its wine cellars, and in its relationship with the environment. Extreme Quality is the entrepreneurial style reflecting the company philosophy.
Cos: Located on the Victoria plateau near Ragusa province and nested between the Ippari and Dirillo rivers slopes gently from the mountains down to the Mediterranean Sea. Rich in history, these lands have been cultivated since 1607. Today, there are still hundreds of “millstones", reminders of an economic splendor from the late eighteenth century. This area is extraordinary thanks to the unique combination of hot climate, local geology, keeping the land dry and well ventilated with nearby ocean currents and day/night temperature changes. The wines have a particular elegance with their Frappato di Vittoria the city’s namesake. Other popular varieties include: Nero d' Avola, Grosso Nero, Nerello Mascalese, as well as white grapes Insolia, Grecanico, Albanello and Moscato.
Feudo Maccari: Captured by the beauty of the Noto Valley during a trip to Sicily, Tuscan native Antonio Moretti decided that this was the place for his next oenological challenge. His grape of choice was Nero d’Avola’, a grape with ancient traditions, its origins going back to Greek settlers who brought it to Sicily with their ‘ad alberello’ cultivation system, a system so efficient that it’s still used in many Southern Italian vineyards today.
Programma
First day: Palermo, S.Cristina Gela. Wine Tasting. Night near Palermo
Arrive at the airport of Palermo, meet your English speaking driver and transfer to S. Cristina Gela.
Count Paolo Marzotto was so deeply fascinated by Sicily’s extraordinary beauty and the ideal climate conditions for producing quality wines that in 1997 decided to plant vineyards with indigenous and international grapes: he created the Agrirelais to host wine-lovers. You will be hosted in the “Baglio” depicted on the wine labels. Wine tasting and dinner.
Second day: Walking in Palermo. Wine Tasting. Night near Palermo
Today you will dedicate one day to Palermo. We will lead you walking through the Arab quarter of “la Kalsa”; you will be flabbergasted by the ruined buildings that instead of displaying disturbance exhale a certain charm. What was once the church of “Lo Spasimo”, destroyed by intense WWII bombings, has been rebuilt, but left without a ceiling. But what more appropriate ceiling than the stars in the sky? As for Palazzo Bonagia, its ruins have become the striking scenery for performances and concerts. Wine tasting and light dinner in a wine bar in Palermo.
Third day: Walking in Cefalù, Wine Tasting. Night near Palermo
The morning will be spent in the lovely Cefalu’, a seaside village where having a pleasant walk. Let’s go then in the inner countryside and our path leads to Regaleali where the Tasca d'Almerita wines are produced. Apart from vineyards, this 400 hectares estate holds almond and olive groves and a wheat plantation, just a really beautiful and inspiring place! We will walk along the vineyards and taste the wines in the cellar and sit around the big table to taste a typical and authentic Sicilian lunch.
Something Special: the perfect place where we can arrange, for a wine connoisseur, a territorial tasting to study the characteristics of the territory and the influence on its wines. All the wines are produced by the same winery, a condition which allows filtering the influence of the wine making practices, which are in this case supposed to be homogeneous, thus highlighting the qualities of a single territory.
Forth day: Segesta, Erice, Night in Menfi
A tortuous and fascinating street surrounded by vineyards brings us to Segesta, offering a perspective of the temple that will remain impressed. You will visit the Temple, which is a perfect example of the Doric school, and the theatre: the ancients were good at choosing the places where to build the theaters!
Leaving for Erice. The city built on the top of a hill was once dedicated to the goddess of Love, Venus. Some claim that is was Aeneas who found it, escaping from Carthage; to others, however, it dates back to Phoenician times. Today it is a medieval lovely town. You will go then to the coastline facing Africa and reach Menfi, whose beaches have received more than 10 consecutive “Blue Flag” for the cleanliness of the sea.
Leading actors of the rebirth and the affirmation of the wine made in Sicily, Planeta family will host you in their resort at Menfi.
A gourmet Sicilian dinner prepared by the chef Angelo Pumilia, will be served in the big dining room where guests sit together round the 30-seat dining table. The four-course menu will be accompanied by a wine tasting route: past and present 4 glasses to match the food route, 1 glass to explain different varieties and territories and 1 old vintage.
Fifth day: Selinunte Temples, Marsala, Salt Mines, Wine Tasting. Night in Menfi
We won’t miss a visit to the very close Temples of Selinunte, the archaeological park full of temples, sanctuaries, fortifications and sculptured metopes.
Then, Marsala, the birthplace of the famous wine. You will visit the spectacular salt mines. It is truly unique scenery: shelter for migration birds, windmills and the so called salt houses (mountains of salt covered with tiles).
You will be welcomed at Donnafugata winery, in the spacious court dating back to the 19th century, a splendid example of the so called “baglio” surrounded by citrus and olive trees. The tour starts under the skillful built trusses -ancient craftsmanship still in use- to find the shiny steel of the most advanced technology together with century old walls. A few steps away we find the new stocking room: dim lights, muffled passes and an atmosphere full of flagrance. From the elevated way you can overview the casks containing this cellar's most famous wines.
You will have a guided vertical tasting. Dinner in an excellent local trattoria on the beach.
Sixth day: Valley of the Temples, Ragusa, Night in Vittoria
Leaving Menfi, our journey leads to the Valley of the Temples, the largest area of Greek buildings outside Greece, listed as a World Heritage Site.
We finally arrive to Ragusa, and visit its fascinating historic center, Ibla. The Val di Noto area was completely destroyed by the massive earthquake of 1693 and then rebuilt in a Sicilian unique baroque style that changed the face of the South-East of Sicily. It has a strong identity with its grinning grotesque masks and putti and a particular flamboyance. Dinner and wine tasting in the estate.
Seventh day: Modica, Noto, Wine Tasting, Night in Vittoria
Today we will lead you to visit another one of the seven baroque cities defined as Cultural Heritage by UNESCO: Modica. As you walk along the streets you will first of all notice the steps, which are a characteristic of the town. The “Dolceria Bonaiuto” will be the place where tasting the famous modician chocolate: the history of modician chocolate dates back in the past, when Modica was related with Spain and consequently with the ancient civilization of Mexico, the Aztec.
Something special: wine and chocolate tasting.
In the afternoon we will visit the beautiful Noto. The last winery we will visit in this journey will be Feudo Maccari. Captured by the Val di Noto, during a journey in Sicily, Antonio Moretti, native to Tuscany, decided that it would be the place for his next oenological challenge and the grape of this challenge would have been ‘Nero d’Avola’. It is a grape with ancient traditions, its origins going back to Greek settlers who brought the grape and the bush ‘ad alberello’ cultivation system. But let’s let the owner himself tell us the whole story. Farewell dinner at the estate.
Eight day: Catania airport
Transfer to the airport of Catania. This journey comes to an end. Hope you enjoyed it.
Date & Quote
Departures on request year round for private pre-formed groups minimum 8 - maximum 14 persons
Quote: on request
Including:
- 7 overnights stay in BB
- 5 visit to winery with wine tasting
- 1 wine tasting in wine bar + light dinner
- 5 dinners in estate/restaurant
- 1 lunch
- Excursions and visits as per program
- Private first class air-conditioned minibus for the whole program
- English speaking Driver/Escort for the whole program
- Local English speaking Guide for the visits in Palermo and Valle dei Templi
Not Including:
- Flights
- Personal Expenses
- Museum Entrance Tickets
- Everything not mentioned as included
- Local taxes
Booking & Cancellation Policy
HOW TO BOOK
You can initiate a booking by sending an enquiry by e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephoning us directly 0039 091 583728, or sending an enquiry online at our website formwww.privatesicily.it . You will be contacted by a member of our staff within 48 hours (working days). We will send you a proposal and quote for the services required. Once we have receiced your written confirmation we will confirm all the service by issuing and sending via e-mail a pro-forma invoice. Please check this pro-forma invoice carefully as soon as you receive it and contact us immediately if there is any wrong information about you or the services confirmed.
GUARANTEED DEPARTURES
The tours marked as guaranteed departures will depart as scheduled with the minimum number of participants specified in each tour. We will confirm the tour 30 days before the scheduled day. We try to make every departure work and only cancel when absolutely necessary and we may decide to operate a tour with less than the normal minimum number of people.
If your tour is cancelled because the minimum size group is not met, you will have the option to either transfer to another tour or receive a full refund of the deposit paid.
PAYMENT
Usually to confirm your booking, we require a deposit of 30% of the total quote, and the balance is required 30 days before departure ; we will specify when different conditions apply in your pro-forma invoice.
CHANGES
Any changes to your confirmed booking, must be notified us in writing. Whilst we will endeavour to assist, we cannot guarantee we will be able to meet the requests. Changes in party size which result in a decrease in the overall cost of the booking will be treated as a partial cancellation and our normal cancellation charges will apply.
CANCELLATIONS
Any cancellation should be made in writing (by e-mail).
Following penalties (% of total invoice) will be applied for cancellations made:
If different conditions apply, they will be specified in the booking process.
Whether a charming historic hotel or a new wine resort, on the seaside or in the countryside inland, or a Michelin 
