Catania natural-wine bar in Piazza San Placido, with a rotating list of Etna DOC small-producers and broader Sicilian and Italian natural wines. Late closing attracts the post-dinner wine crowd.
The list: Around 200 labels focused on Etna DOC and natural Sicilian producers; 20-plus by the glass, rotating weekly
Tip: Bocum's late closing makes it Catania's go-to after-dinner Etna wine destination. The by-the-glass list changes weekly and tends toward small-producer natural Etna DOC.
Address: Piazza San Placido 7, 95131 Catania, Italy, Sicily
Ortigia wine bar with a natural and artisanal focus. Strong Sicilian selection by the glass in the baroque setting of historic Syracuse.
The list: Curated selection of Sicilian and Italian natural wines, 25 by-the-glass; Etna, Cerasuolo di Vittoria and Sicilia DOC whites feature prominently
Tip: Ortigia's most serious wine bar, set in the baroque island centro storico. Late evening crowds spill onto the street in summer; arrive early for a table.
Noto wine bar in the UNESCO-listed baroque city, with an all-Sicilian list anchored in Val di Noto Nero d'Avola and Cerasuolo di Vittoria.
The list: All-Sicilian list of 150-plus bottles with a focus on Val di Noto Nero d'Avola and Cerasuolo di Vittoria; 20 by the glass
Tip: The best place in Noto to taste Nero d'Avola from Avola and Vittoria producers side-by-side in a single evening.
Palermo's most refined restaurant-wine-bar in a 19th-century palazzo in the Kalsa neighbourhood. Serious cellar of aged Sicilian and Italian wines; by-the-glass selection changes weekly.
The list: 250-plus label Italian list with the strongest Sicily section outside Enoteca Picone; 30 by-the-glass
Tip: The bar at the back serves the same list as the restaurant but without the full-menu commitment. Best late-evening stop for a glass of aged Marsala or Etna Rosso Riserva.
Agrigento wine bar on Via Atenea with an all-Sicilian list focused on the Agrigento province's Grillo and Nero d'Avola producers. Late evenings and weekend wine events.
The list: All-Sicilian wine list of 200-plus labels; 20 by the glass; strong on Nero d'Avola, Grillo and Agrigento-province producers
Tip: Located on Agrigento's main historic street, the best stopping point for a glass of Valle dei Templi-area Grillo or Nero d'Avola before or after visiting the temples.
Palermo wine bar on Piazza Marina in the historic Piazza Marina neighbourhood, with late outdoor seating and an all-Sicilian wine list by the glass.
The list: Palermo Piazza Marina wine bar with 180 Sicilian labels; 18 by the glass; outdoor seating on the archway piazza late into the night
Tip: Piazza Marina is one of Palermo's most atmospheric evening squares. The all-Sicilian by-the-glass list is a useful shortcut to the island's DOC geography in one sitting.
Small vinyl-and-wine bar on Modica's main corso, combining natural Sicilian wines with vinyl music. The Cerasuolo di Vittoria pours are a highlight.
The list: Small vinyl-and-wine bar with a rotating natural Sicilian selection; 15 by the glass
Tip: Modica's bohemian wine bar with vinyl jazz and natural Sicilian wines. A night-owl favourite on Corso Umberto with late closing and a compact but personal selection.