Sip of Sicily
Grapetrotters Adventure Grand Wine Tour of the Island October 2023 - 7 nights
A sip of Sicily is the ultimate trip to Sicily for the wine lover. In 6 full days, we'll explore the island from the west to the east stopping at some of its most iconic wineries, all whilst taking in the history and culture of this magnificent island. ​We'll stay in wine resorts & boutique hotels tasting the delicacies and sipping our way from the port of Marsala to the heights of the volcano of Etna.
Arrival – Sunday, October 15, 2023
FIRST WINE TOUR & WELCOME DINNER
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Check-in at our first accommodation (15 minutes from Airport or from Marsala (half an hour from Trapani) during the afternoon. We meet at 6 pm in the hotel lobby for a welcome and intro to our week. We then do our first winery tour followed by a tasting through dinner that will feature typical dishes of the Western region of Sicily.
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Monday, October 16, 2023
ERICE & MARSALA
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We depart after breakfast and visit the medieval village Erice. We will have a little free time to stroll, take some pictures, wander the streets and take in the incredible views. And for those who wish to taste some of Sicily's iconic sweets, some of the best are here at Maria Grammatico.
We then head to one of Sicily's most esteemed wineries for a wine tour & wine pairing lunch of the very best wines of the winery with Sicilian delicacies.
In the afternoon, we head to a smaller winery specializing in the production of fortified wines that Marsala is known for and where we can dive deep into these very special wines.
Time for a little relaxation before dinner back at the hotel.
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Tuesday, October 17, 2023
LUNCH AT WINERY & SELINUNTE
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Before leaving Marsala completely, we will visit another winery, famous for reviving and making incredible Marsala wines. We then head towards Castelvetrano. Midway we stop at a winery in a natural park, notorious for its organic wines and a special dessert wine from Grillo grapes. We will have a light lunch with a wine pairing.
We then visit the Selinunte archaeological park where we will walk around the old temples and ruins with our guide who will tell us about Sicily's ancient history.
We will head for one of Sicily's most iconic winery resorts where we will stay for 2 nights. We will enjoy the most amazing dinner overlooking the vineyards and the sea.
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Wednesday, October 18, 2023
INTERNATIONAL GRAPES IN SICILY
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Mid-morning we head inland to the winery where the wine revolution started for Sicily when international grapes showed the potential for high-quality viticulture. The location is beautiful and we will do a guided visit and tasting followed by lunch at the winery.
On this day we will also stop at a high-quality olive oil press and learn about Sicilian olive cultivars.
In the late afternoon enjoy our winery relais, go for a walk among the vineyards and simply enjoy the splendid location.
We will have another wonderful dinner together with a tasting of more wines.
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Thursday, October 19, 2023
CERASUOLO DI VITTORIA & RAGUSA
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We check out of our hotel and head to the southeast of Sicily where the island’s only DOCG Cerasuolo di Vittoria is. We will visit a winery that marked the history of the region and that today is one of the leaders of biodynamics on the island. Lunch will be with the wines of the winery.
After lunch, we head to beautiful Ragusa and check in to our characteristic hotel which is made out of an ex-convent.
Spend the afternoon discovering the lovely Iblea Ragusa with its many shops, ceramics, and gastronomic delights.
Dinner on your own in beautiful Ragusa where you have many different options, amongst which one of Sicily's most prestigious restaurants
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Friday, October 20, 2023
MODICA, NERO D'AVOLA & NOTO
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We check out of our hotel and head to nearby Modica to visit Sicily's oldest chocolate maker.
With bellies full of lovely sweets, we head towards Noto and visit a lovely winery in this most southeastern part of Sicily, featuring the local grape-hero, Nero d'Avola. We enjoy a homecooked lunch matched with the wines.
A walk around Noto will do us well while we hunt down Sicily's most renowned granita.
We head north towards the volcano Etna where we spend the last two nights and a splendid location.
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Saturday, October 21, 2023
NORTHERN ETNA WINE TOUR
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On our last day, we will spend the day touring beautiful the wineries on the northern side of Etna. We will admire the resistance of these wineries that grow century-old vines between lava flows. We will have lunch at the highest location and enjoy all the volcanic wines.
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Sunday, October 22, 2023
TRANSFER & ARRIVEDERCI
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​The trip has come to an end and after breakfast, our shuttle will drop us off at the Catania airport at around 10 am (if you are continuing your trip you can take a short shuttle or taxi into Catania city). Personal transfers can also be arranged for at a different time.
THIS TRIP INCLUDES:
Transportation throughout the week.
Accommodation in winery resort or boutique hotels with ensuite bathrooms and breakfast every morning.
Minimum 10 winery visits & tastings, 1 guided visit at Selinunte archaeological park. Free visits to other villages (meaning not guided tours).
All meals mentioned in the itinerary are in great local restaurants or farms (selected wines included).
Grape Tours personally (Rebecca - Italian Wine Scholar) accompanies the group throughout the week and we will have local guides take us around the wineries.
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NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare to and from Sicily, meals not specified in the itinerary (1 evening in Ragusa).
Extra drinks outside winery visits or outside mealtimes, or other drinks that are not programmed.
Tips to guides/drivers.
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COST:
Cost per person (based on double room occupancy): 4000 euro p.p.
(single occupancy 4500 euro p.p.)
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Min & max attendance:
This tour will be confirmed with a minimum of 8 people and a max of 16.
Due to the nature of the trip, we have to book hotels well in advance.
We recommend you book in very good time.
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