Casa del Vino Siciliano ★ 4.4
20 by the glassPiazza dell'Universita, Catania
Catania's dedicated Sicilian wine bar on Via Landolina with late closing, Friday producer evenings and an all-island list. The closest Catania equivalent to a natural wine bar in Rome or Milan.
The list: All-Sicilian selection of 250 labels; 20 by the glass rotating weekly; producer guest appearances on Friday evenings
Tip: Friday late tastings with invited Etna and Vittoria producers are the best regular event on the Catania wine calendar. The 23:00-01:00 sessions are uniquely Sicilian in their informality.
Ballaro 25 ★ 4.2
15 by the glassBallaro market, Palermo
Natural wine bar in Palermo's Ballaro market neighbourhood with a very late closing and a chalk-board daily list. Known as the post-midnight drinking spot for Palermo's wine trade.
The list: Natural-wine focused late-night bar in the Ballaro market area; 15 small-producer Sicilian bottles by the glass on a chalk-board menu
Tip: A late-closing dedicated wine bar in Palermo's market district. The list changes daily based on open bottles; all natural, mostly Sicilian with the occasional biodynamic Campanian or Lazio pour.
Enoteca Teatro Greco ★ 4.3
20 by the glassTaormina centro storico
Taormina wine bar adjacent to the ancient Greek Theatre, serving Etna DOC and Sicilian selections by the glass with a view onto the 3rd-century BC theatre and Mount Etna.
The list: Taormina evening wine bar by the Greek theatre; 20 Sicilian and Italian selections by the glass; strong on Etna and Nerello Mascalese
Tip: Positioned one street from the entrance to the Greek Theatre; the perfect pre- or post-theatre venue for a glass of Etna Rosso. Outdoor terrace fills up on performance nights.
Enoteca del Porto ★ 4.2
22 by the glassLa Cala marina, Palermo
Palermo marina wine bar on Via Francesco Crispi with late Saturday producer tasting flights and an all-island by-the-glass selection. One of the city's few bars offering structured tasting formats after midnight.
The list: Palermo late-evening wine bar at the old marina; 22 Sicilian labels by the glass including producer tasting flights on Saturday evenings
Tip: Saturday evening producer flights focus on one region each week: Etna, Vittoria, Marsala or Alcamo. The waterfront terrace stays open late through October.
Bulle Palermo ★ 4.2
20 by the glassLiberta, Palermo
Palermo sparkling wine bar focused on Sicilian metodo classico, Champagne and Italian spumante selections. One of the island's few dedicated sparkling-focused late-evening venues.
The list: Palermo's dedicated sparkling wine bar with Sicilian metodo classico alongside Champagne, Prosecco and Franciacorta; 20 bubbles by the glass
Tip: Sicily's own metodo classico producers (Baglio di Pianetto, Cusumano) are featured alongside French Champagne; a useful introduction to the island's emerging sparkling-wine production.
Frizzante Catania ★ 4.2
18 by the glassPiazza Bellini, Catania
Catania sparkling wine bar in Piazza Bellini specialising in Sicilian petnat, metodo classico and Italian bubbles alongside French Champagne.
The list: Catania sparkling bar featuring Sicilian metodo classico, Etna white petnat and selected Italian and French bubbles; 18 by the glass
Tip: The Etna petnat pours are the highlight: low-intervention sparkling Nerello Mascalese or Carricante in bottle-fermented pet-nat style is a uniquely Sicilian drinking experience.