Cantine Patria — Attraction in Castiglione di Sicilia

July ‘22

I have been fortunate enough to go on wine tours in the UK, USA, Europe and Australia and have to say this vineyard experience was one of our best. From the start our hosts (who I’m sorry to say I can’t remember their names) made us very welcome. We started with a Poss.It a Prosecco style sparkling wine but much drier And as one who isn’t a big Prosecco fan, we bought the white and the Rose versions when we left and which were extraordinarily good value (the rose didn’t last the day). The table was set up for the tasting, a White Etna Bianco, a Red Etna Rosso, an older Red a 2010 Patria and a desert wine. All were exceptional quality and again we bought the Etna Bianco and Etna Rosso and would have bought more had we had space in our cases. Our 2 hosts explained about the wine varieties very well, one even apologised for his lack of English but he explained very well and had nothing to apologise for. We were brought what we thought was the food, some anti pasti consisting of cheese, meats, olives Sun dried tomatoes etc which were given as the pairings. But then we were brought a delicious pasta course, some amazing rosemary potatoes and sausages and the cake to go with the desert wine. Even the desert wine which Laura isn’t a big fan of normally wasn’t too sweet, only for me a later sweetness after drinking and was excellent. The tour included a stunning outdoor event space like an amphitheatre which would be great for wedding or even concerts and a tour of the production facilities including the old original wooden storage barrels. This was the only winery we were able to visit on our weeks holiday, and chosen by our tour guide as we did it with a walk up Etna beforehand and what an outstanding choice. Sorry for any volcanic dust we...

After a long hike on Etna, our visit to Cantina Patria was the perfect reward. The experience started with a generous tasting: a sparkling wine, a rosé, a red, and a white, all paired with a delicious spread of Sicilian food — antipasti, fried aubergine, and pasta that was simply outstanding. The service was impeccable; every wine was explained with care, and the owner himself welcomed us warmly before guiding us through the winery. We toured the facilities, saw the impressive barrels, and even learned about a wine they produced exclusively for the Pope of Rome for 10 years. The vineyard itself is stunning, located in an old circus with sweeping views. Everything about the visit — the wines, the food, the hospitality, and the history — made it a truly memorable experience. A must if you’re exploring...

We had the privilege to participate in the tour, wine tasting and lunch today at Cantine Patria. What an amazing experience. Our experience guide, Martina, was super informative and knowledgeable about the wines and the region. To hear some of the history of the winery and see where the grapes are pressed into juice and then transferred into these huge oak barrels where the wine is aged was super interesting. Then, to finish off the tour of the winery, we enjoyed a delicious multi course lunch with a different wine paired with each course. Martina even made us a great cup of espresso to finish our meal. She was such a lively and inviting tour guide. I highly recommend this tour if you have the opportunity, you will not be disappointed! Ask...