8 days – 7 nights
A wine journey to discover Planeta wines in Sicily is a journey all around the island. Planeta is one of the most outstanding wineries in Sicily, built on a long agricultural tradition handed down since 1500 through 17 generations originally in the area between Sambuca di Sicilia and Menfi. Nowadays, Planeta owns six different wine estates all around Sicily, each wine with its specific traits in term of viticulture research and wine making: Ulmo, at Sambuca di Sicilia, Dispensa, at Menfi; Dorilli, at Victoria; Buonivini at Noto, Feudo di Mezzo at Etna in Castiglione di Sicilia, and finally, La Baronia, at Capo Milazzo, for a total surface area of 363 hectares of vineyards.
Always and everywhere keyword in research and production is connecting the past to the future and combining a deep bond with the oldest wine-making Sicilian tradition and the heritage of native varieties with the acclaimed international ones. Essential point of reference are environmental sustainability, achieved through landscape conservation, renewable energy, recycled materials and sustainable agriculture, with the utmost respect for the territory, cultural heritage and the communities within which the company operates.
Highlights
Palermo: city tour
Menfi: wine resort, Ulmo and La Dispensa estate, Selinunte
Agrigento: Valley of the Temples
Ragusa: Dorilli and Buonivini estate, city tour of Ibla and Noto
Syracuse: archaeological park, Ortigia
Etna: Feudo di Mezzo estate, Taormina and Greek Theatre
ITINERARY & PROGRAM
Day 1: Palermo – Menfi
Arrival at Palermo airport, short tour of the capital of Sicily according to your time of arrival in Sicily. Proceed to Menfi area and accommodation at wine resort
Day 2: Sambuca di Sicilia, Selinunte
The journey starts at the Ulmo estate, Planeta’s first winery, located near Sambuca di Sicilia, a town of Arab origin on the shores of Lake Arancio. Inaugurated in 1995 and surrounded by 93 hectares of vineyards where several grape varieties are grown, it stands in a landscape of matchless beauty, with a wine cellar built just a few meters away from the 16th-century farmhouse – The Baglio – which has always been owned by the family and which now is devoted to hospitality and wine tasting.
This estate is home to Chardonnay Planeta, one of the super crus grown by the firm, and to the single-vineyard crus: Merlot Sito grown by the firm, and to the single-vineyard crus: Merlot Sito dell’Ulmo and Syrah Maroccoli. Finally, there are the territorial varieties: Alastro and Plumbago, monovarietal Grecanico and Nero d’Avola respectively.
At the Ulmo, the wine cellar is architecturally in keeping with the surrounding territory and local traditions, the ground floor houses the fermentation tanks. The underlying barrique cellar, which has about 700 barriques, is where the finest grapes are aged and where Planeta makes their latest challenge Classical Method Brut.
Additionally, at the Ulmo you will find an open-air Iter Vitis Museum (grapevine route), dedicated to the history of Sicilian wine, which includes a teaching field where you can observe all the Sicilian varieties and even some ancient Georgian varieties and La Segreta nature trail, which offers a choice of three routes along the vineyards, revealing surprising landscapes and pockets of wilderness.
La Dispensa estate is the historical heart of the Planeta family and nowadays the technological, production and administrative center of the winery. Located in the hills of Menfi and surrounded by over 120 hectares of vineyards, the baglio, with the family’s private residences, is the largest estate and winery. The super cru Cometa, the single-vineyard Burdese and La Segreta White, La Segreta Red and Rosé wines, are grown and bottled in this enchanting scenario. The tastings are held at La Biblioteca, which houses hundreds of books dedicated to the grapevine, from the 18th century to the most recent publications. The interior of the small wine cellar is also home to the Infernotto, a vault that holds a selection of the best labels from around the world and the complete collection of all Planeta vintages, from the very beginning to those currently on sale, thus affording an overall view of their evolution throughout the course of time.
Visit of the archaeological park of Selinunte.
Day 3: Agrigento – Ragusa
Morning drive to Ragusa aera with en-route visit of Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples, accommodation at a wine resort in Ragusa area.
Day 4: Vittoria – Ragusa
Visit and wine tasting at Dorilli estate standing at the heart of the production area of Cerasuolo di Vittoria, near the Dorilli River that inspired its name, located just a few kilometers away from the Donnafugata Castle, from the city of Ragusa and near the coastal area that leads to the Kamarina archaeological site.
The beautiful farmhouse dating back to the early nineteen hundreds and the wine cellar of the same period, have both been renovated thus maintaining their distinctive original features. The 34 hectares vineyards are entirely planted with Nero d’Avola and Frappato that unmistakably characterize the unique aromatic profiles of the two wines produced at the winery: Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, and Dorilli, Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico DOCG. Cerasuolo di Vittoria is an ancient and distinctive wine that symbolizes this part of Sicily. Since 2006 it can boast the D.O.C.G. mark (controlled designation of origin guaranteed), the first and only wine to have received it in Sicily. The wine cellar, whose interior holds both old steel-coated cement vats and modern stainless steel tanks, has been renovated while respecting the early 20th-century architecture.
Proceed to Ragusa for a visit of Ibla, included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Day 5: Noto – Syracuse – Etna
Located near the late-Baroque towns of Noto and Modica, now and only a few kilometers away from the picturesque seaside village of Marzamemi, the Buonivini estate takes its name, from the ancient district where it is located. The estates covers 51 hectares planted with Nero d’Avola and Moscato Bianco used to make the Santa Cecilia DOC Noto and Passito di Noto DOC wines respectively that are vinified in the “Invisible Wine Cellar” an absolutely cutting-edge project, born from the perfect combination of technical requirements, enological tradition and modern architectural solutions. In order to reduce environmental impact to a minimum, the wine cellar is built entirely underground. The structure is very bold from an architectural point of view, yet it pleasantly contrasts with the mellow hillsides of eastern Sicily that surround this small and beautiful country house. The Palmento going back to the beginning of the 1900’s was originally where the grapes were pressed and the fermentation of the must took place in large pits excavated in the rock. It has been recently been rebuilt maintaining the original architecture and turned into the perfect place for hospitality and wine tasting.
Proceed to Noto for a visit to the capital of the Baroque style architecture in Sicily, part of the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Day 6: Syracuse – Etna
Departure to Syracuse to discover the Archaeological Park with its 15,000-seat Greek theater, elliptical Roman amphitheater and Latomie del Paradiso, the largest of the stone quarries excavated in ancient times. Continue to the island of Ortygia, Syracuse’s old town for lunch at leisure and check in at our deluxe Grand Hotel. Highlights of this afternoon‘s walking tour are Caravaggio’s Burial of Saint Lucy in the Badia and the Cathedral, incorporating the Greek Temple of Athena and the baroque historic centre of Ortigia, Accommodation at country boutique hotel in Mt Etna area.
Day 7: Etna – Taormina
Visit and wine tasting at Feudo di Mezzo estate on Mount Etna covering an area of approximately 460 square kilometers, which makes it the largest active volcano in Europe, and is the third most active in the world. The flanks of the volcano are a ancient and charming wine-growing zone, which has seen few substantial changes since the days of the ancient Greeks who some 25 centuries ago described it in their legends. Here, Planeta has identified three extraordinary sites: the first is Sciara Nuova, 870 meters above sea level, Montelaguardia, and Feudo di Mezzo estate, placed in a central position compared to the other vineyards which hosts the wine cellar, an ambitious architectural project perfectly integrated into the landscape, by building it in an old lava flow, a perfect synthesis of a modern architectural design with the particular traditions of the district. Four wines are produced: Two our Etna crus, Eruzione 1614 Carricante and Eruzione 1614 Nerello Mascalese plus an Etna Bianco DOC and an Etna Rosso DOC. Additionally, the Planeta Classic Method Brut begins its existence at Feudo di Mezzo, with its cultivation and vinification.
Proceed to Taormina to visit this famous Sicilian jewel and its Greek Theatre offering an extraordinary view over Mt Etna and the sea.
Day 8: Catania – departure
Departure to Catania Catania a fascinating city, once a Greek colony and now Sicily’s second largest city, cultural and economic center. Walking tour of the historical center strats with the lvely fisk-market and the Duomo Square and introduce you to ornate Sicilian baroque with visits to the opulent Benedictine Monastery of San Nicola L’Arena and the Teatro Massimo Bellini, the opera house named for beloved composer and native son, Vincenzo Bellini.
Remarks: the visit of Catania takes about 2hours. Please book your flight schedule accordingly.
FEATURES
General info: “Planeta wine tour” is an escorted trip. It is a private tour for individual travellers and can be adapted to a small group of travel companions. It is available all year round on request. It is designed to create a good comfort and let participants enjoy all the areas at best. Accommodation provided is first-class, strategically located. The food is always typically local, with a blend of regional delicacies and top wines. Transportation is top quality. Your driver/escort or tour escort is qualified, pleasant and with a long experience in the field.
Departures & Prices: available all year-round, upon request
Travel Services: we would be happy to assist travellers in case of any further services: i.e. pre-post nights in Sicily, Amalfi Coast or Malta. Do not hesitate to ask for info.
Reservation & Payment: a deposit of 30% per person is required at the time of reservation. Final payment of the tour is due 60 days prior to departure.
Book this experience OR ask for a customized proposal info@isolabella.it
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