Donnafugata's Pantelleria estate produces the celebrated Ben Rye Passito di Pantelleria DOC from Zibibbo (Moscato d'Alessandria) vines trained in the alberello pantesco system on volcanic soils. Ben Rye is consistently rated among Italy's finest sweet wines.
Signature wines: donnafugata-ben-rye
Address: Via S. Michele, 91017 Pantelleria (TP), Sicily, Italy
Marco De Bartoli's Pantelleria estate at Bukkuram produces the Sole d'Agosto passito from Zibibbo vines trained in the alberello pantesco system. The wine is a benchmark of minimal-intervention Pantelleria passito style.
Tasting: Visits by appointment on Pantelleria. Contact via the Marco De Bartoli website.
Signature wines: de-bartoli-bukkuram-sole-d-agosto
Marco De Bartoli's Pantelleria estate at Bukkuram produces the Sole d'Agosto passito from Zibibbo vines trained in the alberello pantesco system. The wine is a benchmark of minimal-intervention Pantelleria passito style.
Tasting: Visits by appointment on Pantelleria. Contact via the Marco De Bartoli website.
Signature wines: de-bartoli-bukkuram-sole-d-agosto
Cusumano's Etna label Alta Mora is produced from the Verzella contrada on the north slope of Etna. The range focuses on Nerello Mascalese for reds and Carricante for whites, with contrada bottlings among the island's most accessible Etna expressions.
Tasting: Etna estate tastings bookable via the Cusumano website.
Signature wines: alta-mora-etna-rosso, alta-mora-etna-bianco
Cantine Milazzo is one of the few producers working seriously within the rare Mamertino DOC, an appellation near Milazzo in the Messina province with roots in ancient Roman viniculture. Their Nocera-blended reds reflect this underexplored north-east terroir.
Tasting: Winery visits and tastings at the Milazzo estate near the Tyrrhenian coast. Contact via the winery.
Signature wines: milazzo-mamertino-rosso, milazzo-nero-davola
Founded by Carlo Hauner in 1963 on Salina in the Aeolian Islands, Hauner is the defining producer of Malvasia delle Lipari DOC. Their passito and naturale styles from Malvasia di Lipari vines are the benchmark for this rare island appellation.
Tasting: Tasting room at the estate on Salina. Open to visitors in the Aeolian Island season (April to October). Contact via the Hauner website.
Signature wines: hauner-malvasia-delle-lipari, hauner-malvasia-delle-lipari-passito
A second-generation family estate on Salina producing organic Malvasia delle Lipari DOC wines alongside a Nero d'Avola-based red. Caravaglio's minimal-intervention passito is a benchmark expression of the Aeolian Islands' volcanic terroir.
Tasting: Seasonal tastings on Salina. Contact via the Caravaglio website.
Signature wines: caravaglio-malvasia-passito, caravaglio-salina-bianco
Firriato's Etna estate in the Verzella contrada includes the Cavanera resort, one of the most complete wine-tourism experiences on Etna, with accommodation, restaurant, cellar visits and the Gaudensius traditional-method sparkling wine from Nerello Mascalese.
Tasting: Wine resort and restaurant on Etna's north slope. Visits and stays bookable via Firriato.
Signature wines: firriato-gaudensius-etna-brut, firriato-cavanera-ripa-di-moraci
