Romantic Sicily has so much to offer the tourist looking for something special. Well, if you like good food and great wine – you’ve come to the right place!
Sicily is a holidaymakers’ paradise. Amazing countryside, the warm Mediterranean, a rich history and culture, friendly people – and perhaps some of the best wine and food you could imagine. If you’re a wine aficionado and you’re looking for luxurious holidays in Sicily, holidays that pamper all of your senses, then you’ve come to the right place!
Wine is as Much a Tradition in Sicily as Pasta
Just as the Italians (and the Sicilians are no exception) love their pasta, so they also love their wines – and justifiably so.
Whilst it’s not 100% clear how long grapes and wine have been produced on this magical Mediterranean island, it’s certainly been for a very long time. What is certain is that, as early as 1500 BC, early Mycenaean traders were growing vines and making wine in Sicily and all across the Mediterranean. This tradition was carried on through the centuries by successive cultures that lived in Sicily.
The island first became an international wine region in 1773 when Englishman John Woodhouse discovered a local wine – the now legendary Marsala. Woodhouse developed a technique for fortifying the wine and making it survive the long journey back to England without losing taste or bouquet. Marsala soon became a hit with high society across the country and, over the years, more and more British vintners developed wineries on the Island and exported their wines to England and the rest of Europe.
Internationally Acclaimed Wine Made by Local Vintners
Today, wine making is firmly in the hands of local Sicilian farmers and vintners who grow dozens of varieties of grapes all across the island. Producing an amazing variety of wonderful wines, Sicily is justifiably considered to be one of the best - if not the best - wine making areas in the whole of Italy. In fact, its reputation for excellent wines is one of the reasons that holidays in Sicily are so popular amongst those who love a good glass of wine.
Try for Yourself
There are just too many excellent wines for us to provide you with a definitive list. What we would suggest is that you try out one of the many wine tasting tours available. The concierge at your hotel will help you discover which types of wine are grown in which area so that you can experience for yourself the smooth taste and rich bouquet of wines such as Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Syran, Bianco D’Alcamo, Passito di Pantelleria and, of course, Marsala.
On a wine tasting tour you’ll get to see where and how the grapes are grown, find out how they’re pressed and then turned into wine. The secrets of winemaking (but not all of them) will be revealed to you and you’ll taste the most delicious nectar of the Gods imaginable.
The original winemaker, according to Greek mythology, was Dionysus - the god of the grape harvest, winemaking, wine and pleasure. May his blessing be upon the many people who book holidays in Sicily to experience for themselves the fruits of his labour.
Ski Touring Valley Style
Go beyond the slopes on a Chamonix ski touring expedition on this winter’s ski holiday.
Keep in Shape While You Travel
Believe it or not, it is possible to return from your travels fitter than when you left and avoid the post-holiday diet. Find out how.
Cruise Back in Time into the Heart of Dutch History at Zaanse Schans
European river cruises provide a unique insight into a country: nowhere is this more true than a trip by boat through the ‘living museum’ of Zaanse Schans.
