Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, CatarrattoFounded 1734Etna DOC
One of Etna's pioneering estates, Benanti has been producing wine on the volcanic slopes since 1734. Their single-contrada whites from Milo are benchmarks for Etna Bianco Superiore, and their Nerello reds helped launch the modern Etna renaissance.
Tasting: Tuesday through Sunday by reservation. Three tasting programmes including Get to Know Etna, Contrade Selection and Library Vintages. Tours of the historic palmento and vineyard.
Signature wines: benanti-pietramarina, benanti-rovittello, benanti-serra-della-contessa
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, CatarrattoFounded 2002Etna DOC
Founded in 2002 by Marc de Grazia on Etna's north slope at Randazzo, Tenuta delle Terre Nere was instrumental in establishing the single-contrada bottlings that made Etna internationally famous. Old-vine Nerello from plots like Calderara Sottana and Guardiola set the benchmark.
Tasting: By appointment, Monday to Friday. Contact via visite@tenutaterrenere.com.
Signature wines: terre-nere-calderara-sottana, terre-nere-guardiola, terre-nere-feudo-di-mezzo
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, ChardonnayFounded 2000Etna DOC
Founded in 2000 by the late Andrea Franchetti at approximately 1,000 metres on Etna's north slope, Passopisciaro produces site-expressive single-contrada Nerello reds including the rare Franchetti red from the high-altitude Solicchiata plots.
Tasting: Visits by appointment at the Passopisciaro estate. Contact via the Vini Franchetti website.
Signature wines: passopisciaro-franchetti, passopisciaro-passorosso, passopisciaro-passobianco
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, CatarrattoFounded 2004Etna DOC
Alberto Aiello Graci has been farming old-vine Nerello Mascalese and Carricante on Etna's north slope since 2004, producing single-contrada wines including the benchmark Arcuria Etna Rosso from 52 acres of ungrafted vines.
Tasting: Visits by appointment at the Passopisciaro estate. Contact via info@graci.eu.
Signature wines: graci-arcuria, graci-barbabecchi, graci-etna-bianco
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, CatarrattoFounded 2005Etna DOC
Founded in 2005 by Michele Faro at Solicchiata on Etna's north slope, Pietradolce works with old-vine Nerello Mascalese and Carricante across several contrade, producing one of the island's most age-worthy single-vineyard Biancos in the Archineri.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at the Solicchiata winery on Etna's north slope. Contact via the Pietradolce website.
Signature wines: pietradolce-archineri, pietradolce-etna-rosso, pietradolce-barbagalli
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Carricante, Catarratto, Inzolia, GrecanicoFounded 2005ORGANIC CERTIFIEDEtna DOC
Giuseppe Russo took over the family's old Nerello Mascalese vineyards in 2005 after his father Girolamo died. Fifteen hectares of organically farmed vines between 650 and 780 metres on Etna's north slope produce sought-after single-vineyard reds including San Lorenzo and a Rina.
Tasting: Vineyard visits and tastings with local cold cuts, cheeses and homemade bread. Contact info@girolamorusso.it or call 0942 983142.
Signature wines: russo-san-lorenzo, russo-a-rina, russo-feudo
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, CatarrattoFounded 1900Biodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDNaturalEtna DOC
Founded in 1900, Calabretta is one of Etna's oldest family wineries. The fourth generation farms 12.5 hectares of ungrafted old vines with copper and sulphur only, producing low-intervention wines from Nerello Mascalese that rank among the most authentic expressions of the north slope.
Tasting: Visits by appointment at the Randazzo estate. Contact via calabretta.net.
Signature wines: calabretta-gaio-gaio, calabretta-etna-rosso, calabretta-vigne-vecchie
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, Merlot, Syrah, MondeuseFounded 1994Etna DOC
Cottanera is a family estate on Etna's north slope producing both native Nerello-based Etna DOC wines and international varieties grown at high altitude. The boutique agriturismo Dimora Cottanera makes it a wine-tourism anchor on the Alcantara Valley rim.
Tasting: Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 17:00, booking essential. Guided vineyard, cellar and tasting experiences.
Signature wines: cottanera-barbazzale-bianco, cottanera-fatagione, cottanera-calderara
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, CatarrattoFounded 1860Etna DOC
A historic estate on Etna's eastern slopes, Murgo introduced Sicily's most acclaimed traditional-method sparkling wine in 1990 using Nerello Mascalese. The 30-hectare property has been in the Scammacca del Murgo family since 1860.
Tasting: Wine tastings available Monday to Saturday 11:30 to 14:00. Restaurant and accommodation on site.
Signature wines: murgo-brut-metodo-classico, murgo-etna-rosso, murgo-etna-bianco
Etna DOC, IGP Terre SicilianeNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Catarratto, Minella, CarricanteFounded 2001Biodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDNaturalEtna DOC
Belgian natural-wine pioneer Frank Cornelissen established his estate on Etna's north slope in 2001, working without sulphur at all. His Magma cuvee from ungrafted pre-phylloxera Nerello vines above 1,000 metres is among Sicily's most sought-after cult wines.
Tasting: Five tasting experiences from the Classic (5 wines, EU40) to the Magma private (6 crus including Grand Vin Magma, EU1,400 for up to 6 people). E-bike vineyard tours available. Book via pr@frankcornelissen.it.
Signature wines: cornelissen-magma, cornelissen-munjebel-rosso, cornelissen-munjebel-bianco
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, CarricanteORGANIC CERTIFIEDEtna DOC
Silvia Maestrelli's Tenuta di Fessina in Rovittello at 670 metres on Etna's north slope offers one of the island's most accessible high-quality tasting experiences. The organic estate produces refined Nerello Mascalese and Carricante across its Etna DOC range.
Tasting: Open every day including holidays. Tasting reception at 10:30, 13:30 and 15:30. Contact fessina@tenutadifessina.com or call +39 345 7230176.
Signature wines: fessina-erse, fessina-musmeci, fessina-a-puddara
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, CatarrattoFounded 2011ORGANIC CERTIFIEDEtna DOC
Founded in 2011 by Mimmo and Valeria Costanzo, Palmento Costanzo farms approximately ten hectares organically on Etna's north slope in Contrada Santo Spirito. They produce contrada-specific wines with manual cultivation and a fully organic approach.
Tasting: Visite e Degustazioni bookable via the estate website. Contact info@palmentocostanzo.com or call +39 0942 983239.
Signature wines: palmento-costanzo-mofete-bianco, palmento-costanzo-mofete-rosso, palmento-costanzo-di-me
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, CatarrattoFounded 1865Etna DOC
The Tornatore family has farmed on Etna since 1865, with a large single-vineyard block in the Castiglione di Sicilia hills. Their estate is often cited as Etna DOC's largest single property, producing a full range of DOC wines from Nerello and Carricante.
Tasting: Guided tours and tastings at the estate, described as the largest single vineyard in Etna DOC. Contact +39 337 1087964.
Signature wines: tornatore-etna-bianco, tornatore-etna-rosso, tornatore-trimarchisa
Etna DOC, Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, Sicilia DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, Nero d'Avola, Frappato, CatarrattoORGANIC CERTIFIEDEtna DOC
Tenute Nicosia operates vineyards on Etna and in Vittoria, producing organic wines across a broad range including Etna DOC and Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG. Their Trecastagni winery on the south-east slope of Etna is a key wine-tourism destination.
Tasting: Guided tours and tastings by reservation at the Trecastagni winery. Multiple tasting packages including Contrade dell'Etna. Contact info@cantinenicosia.it.
Signature wines: nicosia-etna-rosso-fondo-filara, nicosia-etna-bianco, nicosia-monte-gorna
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, CarricanteFounded 2010Etna DOC
Tasca d'Almerita's Etna estate in Castiglione di Sicilia, established around 2010, produces contrada-expressive Nerello Mascalese reds and Carricante whites within the Etna DOC. Ghiaia Nera is the benchmark cuvee of the estate.
Tasting: Visits bookable via the Tasca d'Almerita website. Estate is located in Contrada Rampante on Etna's north slope.
Signature wines: tascante-ghiaia-nera, tascante-il-picciolo
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
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
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, CarricanteEtna DOC
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
Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello CappuccioFounded 1734Etna DOC
The Pietrarizzo contrada on the north slope of Etna at 800 metres produces Benanti's most mineral and savoury Nerello Mascalese. The Benanti family has farmed this plot since the 18th century, making it one of the oldest continuously cultivated contrade on the volcano.
Tasting: Visits available as part of the Benanti estate experience. Book via benanti.it.
Signature wines: benanti-pietrarizzo