Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, CarricanteFounded 2008Etna DOC
Planeta's Etna estate in Solicchiata, established in 2008, produces Nerello Mascalese and Carricante within the Etna DOC. The Sciaranuova winery is one of the island's most architecturally striking cellar doors.
Tasting: Tasting experience at the Sciaranuova winery. Bookable via the Planeta estate website.
Signature wines: planeta-nerello-etna, planeta-carricante-etna
Noto DOC, Sicilia DOCNero d'Avola, Syrah, Moscato BiancoFounded 2003Noto DOC
Planeta's Noto estate produces Nero d'Avola and Moscato di Noto from the sun-drenched south-east of Sicily. The Buonivini contrada is within the historic Noto DOC, home to some of Sicily's oldest Nero d'Avola vines.
Tasting: Tasting experience at the Buonivini winery near Noto. Bookable via the Planeta estate website.
Signature wines: planeta-noto-nero-davola
Passito di Pantelleria DOC, Pantelleria DOCZibibboFounded 1990Pantelleria DOC
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.
Tasting: Estate visits on Pantelleria. Bookable via the Donnafugata visit site.
Signature wines: donnafugata-ben-rye
Passito di Pantelleria DOC, Moscato di Pantelleria DOCZibibboFounded 1978NaturalPantelleria DOC
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
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, CarricanteFounded 2013Etna DOC
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
Mamertino DOC, Sicilia DOCNero d'Avola, Nocera, Nerello Mascalese, Grillo, CatarrattoMamertino DOC
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