Wine Region Guide: Sicilian Wines
For more than 6,000 years, Sicilian wines have been a key part of Italy’s diverse wine culture. Equally shaped by an active volcano and centuries of winemaking traditions, the sun-soaked island of Sicily is now one of Europe’s most exciting wine regions.
Sicily at a Glance
• Sicily is Italy's largest wine region
• The island is home to ~7,200 growers and 530 wineries
• Sicily produced 85M+ bottles in 2023
• Sicily is home to over 60 native grape varieties
• ~34% of Sicilian vineyards are certified organic
Whether you’re studying, planning a trip, or just curious about Sicilian wines, this guide is here to help you understand the region. Let’s explore Sicily’s native grapes, key appellations, classic styles, and the volcanic terroir that makes its wines so distinctive.
Sicily: Italy’s Most Vibrant Wine Region
Before Italy existed, the inhabitants of Sicily (once called Sicania and later Trinacria) were already making wine. Vines were cultivated here as early as 4000 BC. Over centuries, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Normans shaped the island’s wine culture into what it is today.
A Modern Revival
Sicily’s wine has long been valued for its unique character and stability. For a long time, Sicilian wine was exported to whatever country ruled it at the time, but viticulture remained strong.
Then in the 1800s, phylloxera devastated vineyards, which led many to produce cheaper bulk wine out of necessity.
It wasn’t until the mid-1900s that longstanding estates could focus on quality once again. Sicilian wineries replanted native grapes and revived traditional winemaking methods.
By 2011, the island had its first unified appellation: Sicilia DOC, the primary designation for the region. The DOC protects the island’s wine identity, promoting native grapes and ensuring quality.
Today, Sicily is known for its abundance of native grape varieties and its expressive, terroir-driven wines (many from certified-organic vineyards).
Sicily Landscape & Terroir
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean (25,460 km²). The region is characterized by rolling hills, plains, and rugged mountains — particularly Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. Its mineral-rich soils and varied landscapes create distinct wine zones:
• East (Etna): High-altitude, volcanic vineyards yield elegant, high-acid wines.
• Southeast (Vittoria): Warm and sunny, ideal for fragrant reds like Frappato.
• West (Marsala): Limestone soils and sea breezes shape structured whites and fortified wines.
Sicily has a typical Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Coastal winds and elevation add freshness, especially near Etna.
As of 2023, about 22,519 hectares of vineyards fall under Sicily’s appellations.
Wines of Sicily: An Island of Many Grapes
The uniqueness of Sicilian wine is more about its grape varieties than the terroir, which plays a smaller role. More than 60 native grape varieties thrive on the island. Here’s a look at a few of the most notable:
Key Red Grapes
• Nero d’Avola: The island’s most planted red variety. Grown widely, it delivers dark ruby color, rich fruit and spice, full body, and firm tannins with balanced acidity.
• Frappato: Native to Vittoria. Often blended with Nero d’Avola for Cerasuolo di Vittoria, or bottled solo for its fragrant red-fruit and floral character. Light-bodied with fresh acidity.
• Nerello Mascalese: Etna’s primary red. High-acid, fine-tannins, and red-fruit notes, with excellent aging potential.
Key White Grapes
• Catarratto: Sicily’s most widely planted grape variety, known for its subtle floral notes, moderate acidity, and easy-drinking style.
• Carricante: Etna’s flagship white. High acidity, citrus-floral aromatics, and a distinct saline minerality from volcanic soils.
• Grillo: A cross of Catarratto and Zibibbo, producing structured, citrus-herbal whites in age-worthy styles.
• Zibibbo (Moscato d’Alessandria): Aromatic and versatile, used in both dry and sweet wines, including the renowned Passito di Pantelleria.
Permitted Wine Styles
Sicilian wines appear in a wide range of styles, including:
• Bianco: White wines, including vendemmia tardiva (late harvest), passito (sweet), superiore, and riserva categories.
• Rosso: Red wines with similar designations to bianco (late harvest, sweet, riserva), each showing depth and complexity.
• Rosato: Fresh, fruit-forward rosés ranging from delicate to structured.
• Spumante (Bianco or Rosato): Sparkling wines made via metodo classico or Charmat, from crisp and lively to complex and toasty.
Sicily’s Most Notable Sub-Regions
Within the Sicily wine region, there are 24 appellations, each shaping the island’s native varieties within its own landscape and microclimate. You don’t need to memorize them all, but understanding a few key sub-regions will give you a deeper appreciation for Sicily’s diversity.
Here are some of the most important areas that contribute to the Sicilian wine scene.
Etna is one of Italy’s most dramatic wine regions. Vineyards can be found climbing the slopes of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano (3,357 m / 11,013 ft). Believed by the ancient Greeks to have healing powers, Etna’s wines earned Sicily’s first DOC in 1968, though global recognition came much later.
Terroir
Volcanic soils, high altitudes, and the meeting of hot African winds with cool mountain air create ideal conditions for healthy, expressive grapes. All of this results in fresh, mineral-driven wines with depth and structure.
Notable Wine Varieties & Styles
• Etna Rosso (Nerello Mascalese): Lively reds with red fruit, herbal notes, firm tannins, and bright acidity — often called Etna’s “indigenous Pinot Noir.”
• Etna Bianco (Carricante): Complex, long-lived whites with citrus, wet stone, and flinty minerality.
Producers & Highlights
• Benanti - A pioneer of Etna’s quality revival, Benanti helped define the region’s modern style with age-worthy whites like Pietra.
• Planeta (Etna line) - One of Sicily’s most recognized wineries, bringing Etna’s volcanic reds and whites to a global audience.
• Tornatore - Grown on Etna’s north slopes; primarily Nerello Mascalese.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria holds a special place in Sicilian wine. It’s the island’s only DOCG, produced across parts of Ragusa, Caltanissetta, and Catania, including a historic “Classico” zone. First recognized as a DOC in 1973, it was elevated to DOCG status in 2005, cementing its reputation for quality.
Terroir
The region’s hallmark is its terra rossa — the sandy red soils over limestone and tufa that drain well while retaining enough moisture to nourish the vines. This unique terroir gives the wines their bright cherry-red hue, fragrant aromatics, fresh acidity, and medium body.
Notable Wine Varieties & Styles
• Rosso (Cerasuolo di Vittoria): A blend of 50–70% Nero d’Avola and 30–50% Frappato.
• Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico: From the original historic zone, aged longer for greater depth and complexity.
Producers & Highlights
• COS - A pioneer in organic and amphora-aged styles.
• Occhipinti - Known for elegant, terroir-driven interpretations.
• Planeta (Vittoria Estates) - A well-known producer of balanced, modern expressions.
Recognized as a Chianti DOCG subzone in 1932, Colli Fiorentini lies closest to Florence and was historically known for producing vino cittadino — the “city wine” of Florence.
The local growers organized the Consorzio Chianti Colli Fiorentini in 1994 to oversee quality. By 2004, it received official recognition from Italy’s Ministry of Agriculture.
Terroir and Climate
Vines in Colli Fiorentini grow at 150 to 400 meters above sea level. Many are planted on southeast- and southwest-facing slopes, catching spring sun and ripening grapes evenly into autumn. The climate is temperate, with reliable rainfall across the year.
The soils are a mix of compact clay and limestone with plenty of other stones. This holds heat and drains well.
These factors combine to produce grapes with both ripeness and freshness, yielding aromatic wines that are highly approachable.
Wine Styles and Character
Colli Fiorentini wines are generally medium-bodied, structured, and lifted by bright red fruit and floral notes. Labels may include Chianti Superiore and Chianti Riserva, alongside other Tuscan IGT bottlings like Rosso, Bianco, or Rosato.
Some producers experiment with modern approaches, such as aging in barrique or even terracotta amphorae.
Notable Wineries
One standout producer in Colli Fiorentini is Fattoria San Michele a Torri, which sits in the hills of Scandicci, just southwest of Florence. The estate spans roughly 75 hectares in Chianti Colli Fiorentini and another 15 in Chianti Classico. This allows the winery to produce wines with both DOCG labels.
Marsala is Sicily’s iconic fortified wine region, produced in the province of Trapani on the island’s western coast (excluding Pantelleria, Favignana, and Alcamo). These wines have been part of Sicilian culture for centuries, originally crafted for export to British markets. Marsala received official DOC status in 1963. The first detailed production regulations (disciplinare) were defined in 1969, but have since been refined several times to preserve quality and tradition.
Terroir
Unlike many regions, Marsala’s identity is shaped more by winemaking technique than by micro-terroir. Extended aging in wood (often through oxidative processes) plays a key role in developing its complex flavors and range of sweetness levels.
Notable Wine Varieties & Styles
Marsala is classified by both aging category and style:
• Fine - aged minimum 1 year
• Superiore - aged minimum 2 years
• Superiore Riserva - aged minimum 4 years
• Vergine/Solera - aged minimum 5 years
• Vergine Stravecchio/Riserva - aged minimum 10 years
Color styles: Oro (gold), Ambra (amber), Rubino (ruby)
Sweetness levels: Secco (dry), Semisecco (semi-sweet), Dolce (sweet)
Producers & Highlights
Several historic producers in Marsala continue to set the standard:
• Cantine Florio - Founded in 1833, a pioneer of classic styles.
• Marco De Bartoli - Revered for artisanal, terroir-driven interpretations.
• Curatolo Arini - Historic house often cited as the oldest family-owned Marsala producer in continuous operation. Strong lineup across color/sweetness and aging categories.
Pantelleria is a tiny volcanic island south of Sicily’s mainland dedicated almost entirely to Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria). The entire island falls under the Pantelleria DOC, known for producing intensely aromatic sweet wines. Originally established as Moscato di Pantelleria in 1971, the appellation was broadened to Pantelleria DOC in 2013, with further production rules updated in 2024 to preserve its unique traditions.
Terroir
Pantelleria’s environment is extreme. Intense sun, fierce winds, and volcanic soils combine to create highly concentrated grapes. Vines are grown low to the ground in the traditional alberello pantesco style, a UNESCO-recognized technique that protects clusters from the wind and boosts aromatic intensity.
Notable Wine Varieties & Styles
• Passito di Pantelleria: Sun-dried Zibibbo grapes create rich, luscious sweet wines with intense fruit and floral aromas.
• Moscato di Pantelleria: Fragrant and typically sweet, showcasing the grape’s signature perfume.
• Other DOC styles include spumante and liqueur versions.
Producers & Highlights
• Donnafugata “Ben Ryé” - One of Italy’s most acclaimed sweet wines, known for its depth and complexity.
• Marco De Bartoli “Bukkuram” - A benchmark example of traditional passito winemaking.
Since its establishment in 1995, Menfi has become a symbol of modern Sicilian winemaking. It is located along Sicily’s southwestern coast in the provinces of Agrigento and Trapani. In 2014, Menfi DOC’s disciplinare was significantly updated to expand permitted varieties and simplify the region by removing former subzones.
Terroir
Menfi’s vineyards benefit from a coastal Mediterranean climate. Warm, dry summers tempered by sea breezes help preserve acidity and freshness in wines. Its soils are a varied mix of sand, limestone, and clay, supporting everything from crisp, aromatic whites to ripe, structured reds. This diversity allows producers to experiment widely with styles.
Notable Wine Varieties & Styles
The DOC permits Bianco, Rosato, and Rosso wines, along with varietal bottlings that showcase both native and international grapes:
• Whites: Grillo, Catarratto (Grecanico), Chardonnay
• Reds: Nero d’Avola, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Producers & Highlights
• Planeta (Ulmo Estate): A prominent estate known for terroir-driven whites and reds that helped put Menfi on the global map.
• Cantine Settesoli / Mandrarossa: One of Sicily’s largest and most influential cooperatives, producing wines that are both experimental and dedicated to the region’s known quality.
Located in Sicily’s far southeast, Noto DOC is closely tied to the heartland of Nero d’Avola and the island’s historic Moscato Bianco. While it was established as Moscato di Noto in 1974, the appellation was restructured in 2008 to its current form. This shift expanded its focus beyond sweet wines to include powerful, sun-ripened reds.
Terroir
Noto’s warm Mediterranean climate, abundant sunshine, and coastal breezes create ideal conditions for aromatic whites and concentrated reds. The region’s dry conditions promote ripeness and intensity, while proximity to the sea helps retain freshness.
Notable Wine Varieties & Styles
• Moscato di Noto: Typically 100% Moscato Bianco, producing intensely aromatic, often sweet wines.
• Noto Rosso: Centered on Nero d’Avola, offering generous fruit, structure, and depth.
• Varietal Nero d’Avola: Also permitted, showcasing the grape’s signature richness and spice.
Producers & Highlights
• Planeta “Santa Cecilia:” A benchmark Nero d’Avola from the region’s limestone soils, known for its depth, elegance, and age-worthiness.
Explore Italy’s Legendary Wine Regions
Want to learn more about Italy’s most iconic wines and appellations? Napa Valley Wine Academy’s Discover Italian Wines course offers the perfect start.
The course is designed to help you build a strong foundation for deeper wine studies or simply expanding your palate.
Discover more of what Sicily and other celebrated Italian regions have to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dive Deeper Into Wine
Sicily’s wine story is unlike any other. Though the Sicilia DOC is just over a decade old, the region’s winemaking roots stretch back thousands of years.
With its mineral-rich volcanic soils and wealth of native grapes, Sicilian wines are those you won’t find anywhere else.
If you’re ready to go deeper into Italy’s wine landscape, Napa Valley Wine Academy is here to guide you. We offer region-specific courses and official WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) training at every level. All our materials are designed to make wine education approachable, engaging, and free of snobbery.
Earn certification for a career or develop your confidence to buy, taste, and talk about wine like an expert.
Ready to begin your journey?
