Tenuta di Castellaro — Attraction in Lipari

Lets start with the things we enjoyed, the villa was really nice with very comfy bed and lush blankets and pillows and truly had peaceful sleeps. The views of the winery and being nestled at the top of the mountain with the beautiful views of the unlimited vineyards are impeccable, really calming and serene. The outdoor bathtub and bathroom are great too. I Turley booked this stay with the excitement to disconnect and feeling secluded and away from everything on the island, and it did give this feeling. However, we encountered number of disappointments in relation to hospitality and feeling welcomed from the heart and the services offered with an accommodation that is very pricy and away from shops and facilities, check below section. We had dinner at the Osteria, they didnt have vegetarian options but the Chef gladly made us 2 nice pasta dishes and they were nice

Disliked · At the welcoming, we were offered drinks and asked about our IDs, because I was so tired and had so many luggage I asked if I could send it later that day by Whatsapp, they agreed (which I did send my ID once I arrived the room). After, We were taken to our villa, , when we arrived, the Sea View Villa (they claim all their villas are Seaview on booking.com), it didnt have the claimed living room and & the outdoor terrace had a small dining table with no outdoor seating (the booking we made, it was the 430ft villa with living room and big terrace with poufs), I spoke with the Manager Giuseppe and he agreed to show me the other villa and change the room, which was the one that looked exactly what our booking was & it did have a Living room and a big terrace (but of course no sea view!, however, given we were tired and the place is beautiful, we decided to settle and enjoy the vineyards scenery. Because the poufs were not placed outside, the lady told us the next day in the morning she will prepare the outdoor seating, & the sofa beds to sleep, she told us that she will prepare them the next day! not on the day! The next day comes and the lady put the sheet covers on the sofa expecting us to fill them with the provided pillows and sheets! and she just put 2 poufs and kept asking is this ok? in a tone that she looked bothered to prepare outdoor seating area, since we decided to spend the entire day at the villa to relax! Breakfast: we decided to add the breakfast option which costs 20 per person, and this was a complete scam! we paid 40 very limited options (no bread station!) that definitely not worth the price tag! I spoke with Giuseppe about it. Also, at breakfast, while I am eating, Francesco came to me asking me about my ID, I told him that I sent it but he said in anger voice while my mouth was full of food that no i need to send it now, which I did it, he could ask politely to do so. On the last night, there was a wedding where the loud music lasted until 2:00am which of course we didnt sleep well. They do really need to work on their hospitality and offering warmth dimension to the services offered. I spoke with Giuseppe about the breakfast and the Francesco's breakfast behaviour but and wanted to keep this review to myself, but when all the above plus on the same day there was a loud music lasting until 2:00am and they claim they you relax at their property, it pushed me to the edge of not sleeping well, poor options for breakfast and the price tag was insane! I am a travel blogger that travelled to over 40 destinations and stayed in modest and lux stays wroldwide and I live also in Italy and I know that this breakfast shouldnt cost 40 euros for 2 people! he Tenuta gave us the vibes of people wanting just to make money from its exquisite location rather than investing in a staff or their customer service that match the 400 euros per night. Afterall, when I pay that price tag I am not expected to fill my pillows and blankets inside the sheets nor given a villa that i didnt book nor have to have a discussion about how many poufs I need outside! unfortunately, the customer service hid behind the big fake smiles...

Visiting Tenuta di Castellaro was one of the most memorable stops of our trip to Sicily and the Aeolian Islands.

We arranged a driver with the winery to pick us up. He took us uphill to the winery, pausing along the way to point out stunning views of the sea and promising a scenic overlook on the return (which he delivered).

At the winery, we were welcomed warmly by Giuseppe, the resident sommelier. His hospitality set the tone right away. He explained the challenges of growing vines on Lipari, the island has no natural freshwater source, so all water is delivered by ferry. Here, the vineyards are dry-farmed, with roots reaching deep into volcanic rock for sustenance. The vines are trained in the traditional albarello (“little tree”) system, ideal for this high-altitude, windy terroir.

Our tasting began with a crisp dry white served alongside a generous cheese and salumi board. Workers were visible in the vineyards, trimming and tying vines under the sun. The experience felt alive and connected to the land.

We then toured the eco-friendly cellars, naturally cooled by air channels, before sitting down for a pasta course: Pasta di Gragnano with estate-grown tomatoes, perfectly al dente, paired with Corinto Nero, an elegant, ancient Greek varietal. It carried notes of ripe berries, forest floor, and herbs.

The finale was their Malvasia delle Lipari DOC Passito. Golden in the glass, it struck a beautiful balance between sweetness and freshness, with flavors of apricot, fig, elderflower, and raisins touched by Mediterranean herbs.

We finished with a walk through the vineyards and panoramic views stretching toward Salina and beyond. The combination of volcanic terroir, ancient grape varieties, and thoughtful winemaking made this a truly special visit.

Tips for visitors: Book in advance: this is a curated experience, not a casual walk-in tasting. Allow time for the scenic drive and photos; the views are spectacular. Their Malvasia delle Lipari is a must-try and a must-buy.

Tenuta di Castellaro blends world-class wine with a deep sense of place. If you find yourself on Lipari,...

The wine tasting was the absolute highlight of our entire one-week Sicily trip. A beautiful location, experienced staff with amazing wine knowledge and a very well-rounded, relaxed experience. We opted to be picked up by shuttle since we didn’t have our own vehicle, and although that is priced separately, it was quite relaxed and saved us some planning. Maybe you can go up during the day with the island bus but our wine tasting was an evening one, so we didn’t risk that. We saw the cellars, we saw where they produce the wine, different techniques, and then we left to enjoy a glass of rose on the side of the vineyard overlooking Salina. It was the most beautiful sunset we’ve ever experienced. After that there is a tasting of three more wine, you can also ask for other options, they are willing to let you try more if you’re interested. You also get some snacks from different parts of the aeolian islands, so it all pairs perfectly. They do cater to your needs if you’re vegetarian. You pay for that experience and I’d gladly...